News Releases

Owens Findlay-area Campus Unveils New One-Day Registration Events in July and August

Posted on July 26th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Area residents interested in pursuing a college education this fall at Owens Community College are invited to attend one of several days designed to assist them toward their career and educational aspirations as the academic institution serves as host to One-Day Registration Events in July and August. Fall Semester classes begin Aug. 20.

One-Day Registration Events will take place July 30 and Aug. 2, 6 and 8 in the Education Center Room 133 on the Findlay-area Campus. The registration sessions each day will occur from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

Throughout each registration day, individuals will be able to meet with representatives and complete their placement testing, attend new student orientation and register for classes, among other services. Participants will also be provided with a free lunch or dinner during their visit.

Attendees are required to complete an application prior to attending a designated registration day. Individuals are also required to bring valid picture identification and know their social security number.

Space for each One-Day Registration Events session is limited. For more information, or to register, call (567) 429-3656 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3656. Or, check out the Owens website at www.owens.edu/oneday/.

Owens Community College is an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education that has served Northwest Ohio since 1965. With a commitment to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability, the College serves the diverse academic needs of credit and non-credit students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, as well as at the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee and the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. Owens offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.

Owens Toledo-area Campus to Host One-Day Registration Events in July and August

Posted on July 25th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents interested in pursuing a college education this fall at Owens Community College are invited to attend one of several days designed to assist them toward their career and educational aspirations as the academic institution serves as host to One-Day Registration Events in July and August. Fall Semester classes begin Aug. 20.

One-Day Registration Events will take place July 25, 26 and 30 and Aug. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 in College Hall Room 130 on the Toledo-area Campus. Two separate registration sessions will take place each designated day. The first session will occur from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., while the second session will run from 3-9 p.m. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Throughout each registration day, individuals will be able to meet with representatives and complete student registration services specific to admissions, placement testing and new student orientation, among other services. Participants will also be provided with a free lunch or dinner during their visit.

Space for each One-Day Registration Events session is limited. For more information, or to register, call (567) 661-7252 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7252. Or, check out the Owens website at www.owens.edu/oneday/.

Owens Learning Center at The Source to Showcase Academic Programs and Services During Open House, July 31

Posted on July 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to learn about and explore the many educational programs, services and resources available at Owens Community College’s Learning Center at The Source as the academic institution serves as host to an Open House event on Tuesday, July 31.

The event is open to the public and will take place from 12-3 p.m. at Owens’ Learning Center at The Source, which is located on 1301 Monroe St. in downtown Toledo.

“Owens Community College is proud to offer a day where community members can learn about our many academic programs and services and get to know our learning center,” said Willie Williams, Owens Director of the Learning Center at The Source. “The event is designed for prospective students and families to experience Owens Community College and the many educational opportunities that our academic institution has to offer.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives and pick up information about such educational services as new student orientation, placement testing, admissions and advising, as well as learn about the College’s academic programs and resources available within the Schools’ of Arts and Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Nursing, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Technology.

In addition, Owens Open House participants can visit with staff from such offices as Admissions, Academic Advising, Career Services, Testing Services, Disability Services, Veterans Services and Oserve throughout the open house event.

All attendees are encouraged to visit the check-in and information location at the entrance upon arrival to the Owens Learning Center at The Source.

For more information about the open house, call (567) 661-2732 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2732. Or, check out the Owens website at www.owens.edu/openhouse/ .

Owens and Community Partners Assist Area Children With School Supply Drive, July 17 – Aug. 17

Posted on July 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association in collaboration with Books-A-Million Inc., nine Directions Credit Union branches, two Great Lakes Credit Union branches and five Genoa Bank branches are reaching out to area children in need of school supplies by holding a month-long “Backpack to the Future” School Supply Drive beginning Tuesday, July 17. Collected items will benefit low-income kindergarten-age school children throughout Northwest Ohio.

The “Backpack to the Future” School Supply Drive will occur at the Books-A-Million bookstores (2105 Levis Commons Blvd.) in The Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg and (1800 Tiffin Ave.) in the Findlay Village Mall in Findlay; nine Directions Credit Union branches (5121 Whiteford Rd.) in Sylvania, (3000 Tremainsville Rd.) in Toledo, (3321 Briarfield Blvd.) in Maumee, (4150 Brockway Dr.) in Perrysburg, (3312 Dustin Rd.) in Oregon, (2533 S. Reynolds Rd.) in Toledo, (3450 Central Ave. Suite 128) in Toledo, (27427 Crossroads Pkwy.) in Rossford and (1 Owens Corning Pkwy.) in Toledo; two Great Lakes Credit Union branches (5823 Monroe St.) in Sylvania and (580 Craig Dr.) in Perrysburg; and five Genoa Bank branches (801 Main St.) in Genoa, (3201 Navarre Ave.) in Oregon, (703 Conant St.) in Maumee, (24950 W. State Route 51) in Millbury and (9920 Old U.S. 20) in Rossford. The 18 community locations expand the College’s educational initiative for individuals to drop off their donations. Among the charitable items that will be accepted as part of the school supply drive are gently-used or new backpacks, crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues.

According to Kaye Koevenig, Owens Alumni Association Community Service Chair, the Northwest Ohio community’s initial response toward the “Backpack to the Future” Supply Drive has been very positive.

“Owens’ ‘Backpack to the Future’ school supply drive initiative has expanded efforts thanks to the support of Books-A-Million, Directions Credit Union, Genoa Bank and Great Lakes Credit Union,” she stated. “I encourage area residents to lend a helping hand to those children who are in need of school supplies.”

Since establishing the program in 2004, the Owens Alumni Association has given 2,356 backpacks and 42,661 school supplies to benefit disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

Since opening its doors in 1965, Owens has provided higher education to more than 250,000 students. Owens’ Alumni Association is committed to the personal and professional success of alumni and students through the ongoing development of value-added initiatives.

In addition to the community supply drive locations, area residents can bring their charitable donations to the College’s Office of Alumni Relations on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township, the Education Center Atrium on the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay and the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee. For more information about the school supply drive, or to make a donation, contact the Alumni Relations Office at (567) 661-7876, 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7876 or alumni@owens.edu.

Owens Community College to Showcase New Virtual Welding Technology During Open House Event, July 18

Posted on July 11th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents as well as business professionals are invited to learn about the latest innovative technology within the welding industry as Owens Community College unveils new state-of-the-art VRTEX 360, a virtual reality arc welding training system from Lincoln Electric, during an Open House Demonstration of Virtual Welding event on Wednesday, July 18. Owens is the first academic institution in Northwest Ohio to utilize the new virtual welding training system.

The event will take place from 7:30-10 a.m. at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center on 1724 Indian Wood Circle in Maumee. The event is free and open to the public.

VRTEX 360 is a computer-based educational training system that is designed to allow students to practice their welding techniques in a simulated environment. The technology promotes the efficient and effective transfer of skills from the virtual training environment to the welding booth. Additionally, VRTEX 360 is designed to reduce the utilization of material waste, scrap and energy consumption associated with traditional welding training.

The new technology enables students to simulate SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG) and FCAW (flux-colored) welding processes in multiple configurations and positions. Additionally, the virtual welder can mirror a variety of welding environments, including a simulated welding booth training or field welding exercises. The realistic, hands-on training experience is designed to complement actual training conducted within welding booths.

During the welding simulation, participants wear a VR Welding Helmet, which features internal monitors that immerse them in the virtual environment. Welding technique and performance is measured through sensors in the hand-held VR Welding Gun. Detailed information about the student’s welding technique for each pass is scored within the areas of position, arc length, work angle, travel angle and travel speed.

Owens’ new technology will be used to conduct initial assessment of skills for employees of business and industry as part of Workforce and Community Services corporate training initiatives, as well as to enhance experience learning opportunities for students pursuing an associate’s degree in Welding Technology and certificates in GMAW welding, GTAW welding, SMAW welding and Welding Pre-certification on the College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

The addition of the new virtual welding technology is a continuation of the College’s ongoing investment to expand access to higher educational opportunities within field of welding. In 2011, Owens unveiled a new $1.1 million Welding Design Center on the Toledo-area Campus. The new state-of-the-art educational center features the latest in technological and academic resources specific to welding for several degree and certificate programs.

Owens Express Student-Athletes Named OCCAC 2011-12 Academic All-Conference

Posted on July 9th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Twenty-three Owens Community College student-athletes have received Academic All-Conference honors by the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) in recognition of their scholarly achievements for the 2011-12 academic year.

“Owens Community College is extremely proud to honor and recognize these student-athletes for exhibiting academic excellence within the classroom,” said Rudy Yovich, Owens Director of Athletics.

Selection criterion for the honored recipients is based upon achieving a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade point average.

Owens has been a member of the OCCAC since 1987. The other member schools comprising the OCCAC are Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Columbus State Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Edison State Community College, Lakeland Community College, Lorain County Community College and Sinclair Community College.

Student-athletes receiving OCCAC Academic All-Conference honors include:

Dane Davis of Romeo, Mich. (pre-business administration), a Romeo H.S. graduate (men’s baseball) with a 3.63 grade point average.
Jeff Davis of Toledo (associate of science, general concentration), a St. Francis de Sales H.S. graduate (men’s baseball) with a 3.54 grade point average.
Adam Jones of Columbus, Ind. (exercise science), a Columbus North H.S. graduate (men’s baseball) with a 3.87 grade point average.
Alex Juday of Elwood, Ind. (history), an Elwood H.S. graduate (men’s baseball) with a 3.77 grade point average.
Trevor Ozenbaugh of Elwood, Ind. (associate of arts, general concentration), an Elwood H.S. graduate (men’s baseball) with a 3.73 grade point average.
Chris Ward of Brunswick (accounting), a Brunswick H.S. graduate (men’s baseball) with a 3.75 grade point average.
Luke Berger of Temperance, Mich. (pre-business administration), a Bedford H.S. graduate (men’s golf) with a 3.5 grade point average.
Conor Totzke of Liberty Center (pre-business administration), a Liberty Center H.S. graduate (men’s golf) with a 3.65 grade point average.
Sean Kaighin of Oregon (education), a Clay H.S. graduate (men’s soccer) with a 3.91 grade point average.
David Ortega-Gonzalez of Madrid, Spain (undeclared), a Nazaret Oporto College graduate (men’s soccer) with a 4.0 grade point average.
Nikoy Wallace of Lauderhill, Fla. (diesel technology), an Anchovy H.S. graduate (men’s soccer) with a 3.37 grade point average.
Ellie Riser of Fostoria (pre-medical imaging technology), a St. Wendelin Catholic H.S. graduate (women’s basketball) with a 3.69 grade point average.
Molly Hilfinger of Whitehouse (pre-nursing), an Anthony Wayne H.S. graduate (women’s volleyball) with a 3.74 grade point average.
Alyssa Meis of Curtice (exercise science), a Genoa H.S. graduate (women’s volleyball) with a 3.5 grade point average.
April DeCant of Delta (pre-physical therapist assistant), a Liberty Center H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.9 grade point average.
Jaylee Glad of Temperance, Mich. (pre-nursing), an Ida H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.69 grade point average.
Melanie Iacoangeli of Monroe, Mich. (pre-business administration), an Ida H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.9 grade point average.
Hannah Morrison of Curtice (pre-medical imaging technology), a Genoa H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.47 grade point average.
Olivia Reeder of Martin (multi-age education), a Genoa H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.31 grade point average.
Amanda Sinay of Oregon (accounting), a Cardinal Stritch H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.74 grade point average.
Ashlyn Michalak of Temperance, Mich. (pre-business administration), a Springfield H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.45 grade point average.
Kasey Graham of Oregon (multi-age education), a Clay H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.73 grade point average.
Hallie Thompson of Oregon (early childhood education), a Clay H.S. graduate (women’s softball) with a 3.62 grade point average.

Owens Community College to Host Heroes Summer Youth Camp, July 31 – Aug. 2

Posted on July 9th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area youth ages 8 through 17 will have the opportunity to place themselves in shoes of first responders and explore the areas of emergency medical service, law enforcement and fire service as Owens Community College serves as host to Heroes Summer Youth Camp, July 31 – Aug. 2.

The Heroes Summer Youth Camp will take place at the College’s Center for Emergency Preparedness, which is located on Tracy Road in Lake Township. The College will offer two separate age-appropriate class sections as part of the three-day camp. Both class sections will take place Tuesday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

“Owens Community College is excited to once again provide a continuing education program that brings emergency medical service, law enforcement and fire service alive through fun, hands-on learning activities that are in a controlled, safe environment,” said Michael Cornell, Owens Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness. “Attendees will have the opportunity of a lifetime to experience the first responders’ profession and how these individuals go about saving and protecting people’s lives on a daily basis.”

The first class section will explore basic first aid/CPR, introduce attendees to an air ambulance and discuss prevention of head injury and helmet safety. Campus instruction will also include K-9 demonstrations, firearm safety and crime prevention, as well as evacuation steps to take in a house fire emergency. Additionally, camp participants will be introduced to police cars, fire trucks and hose lines. The first class is for ages 8 through 12.

The second class section is for ages 13 through 17 and will feature similar topics and activities as the younger age group as well as target practice using non-firearm air soft trainers. In addition, attendees will experience a mock bank robbery where they will ride along with a SWAT team, attack a structure fire inside the College’s virtual fire training system, repel off an indoor training tower and use the Jaws of Life to rescue a simulated victim trapped inside a vehicle.

The Center for Emergency Preparedness is the premier all-hazards national training facility located at Owens Community College. As the world continues to change so will the critical training demands for the men and women who place themselves in harm’s way. The Center for Emergency Preparedness is dedicated to securing the homeland and assuring the safety of our citizens by building a well-trained community of first responders, first receivers and allied professionals who are ready to safely respond to and mitigate the effects of an all-hazards event.

All Heroes Summer Youth Camp staff are state-certified Emergency Service Instructors who are active in the emergency services fields. For more information, or to register, call (567) 661-2411 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2411.

Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus Unveils New Cohort Business and Office Administration Programs

Posted on July 5th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Area working professionals with aspirations of advancing in the career fields of business and office administration will soon have the opportunity to pursue their college education one night per week at Owens Community College as the academic institution is expanding its associate’s degree offerings to include new Cohort Programs in Business Management Technology and Office Administration Technology on the Findlay-area Campus.

“Owens Community College is excited to complement our current academic offerings with new Cohort Programs and provide area residents with alternative ways to pursue a college education,” said Mazhar Anik, Owens Chair of the School of Business on the Findlay-area Campus. “The new Cohort Programs provide the unique benefit that the majority of the classes are offered one at a time over a period of several weeks throughout a semester, allowing individuals to focus completely on a single subject matter for four weeks at a time.”

Anik added, “Each student will be part of a learning community, enabling them to learn with their peers. This program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals by offering greater flexibility to academic options.”

Cohort Program classes for both Business Management Technology and Office Administration Technology will take place from 5:30-10 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning this Fall Semester on the Findlay-area Campus. The Business Management Technology cohort will include classes in contemporary business (weeks 1-4), sociology (weeks 5-8), modern business mathematics (weeks 9-12) and computer concepts and applications (weeks 13-16) during the upcoming fall term, while the Office Administration Technology cohort this Fall Semester will feature academic courses in contemporary business (weeks 1-4), sociology (weeks 5-8), document formatting (weeks 9-12) and computer concepts and applications (weeks 13-16).

The academic curriculum in Business Management Technology is designed to provide students with a solid foundation for careers in human resource management, office management, branch management and small business management, among others. Students with an associate’s degree in Office Administration Technology are prepared for careers as administrative assistants, executive assistants, executive secretaries and secretaries. Classes for both academic programs will continue through the upcoming Spring, Summer and Fall semesters. Students will graduate from the two programs after completing their academic studies by Summer Semester 2014.

Prospective students must be a working professional at least 25 years of age and must complete a formal application for acceptance into the Cohort Programs. Enrollment in each academic program is limited. Fall Semester cohort classes start Aug. 21.

Owens will host two open houses on the College’s Findlay-area Campus for those individuals interested in learning more about the new Cohort Programs. The open houses will take place July 17 and 24 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Education Center Room 111.

For additional information about the new Cohort Programs in Business Management Technology or Office Administration Technology, or to request an application, call (567) 661-7412 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7412, or e-mail gary_walkowiak@owens.edu.

Owens Community College to Host Mitchell-Jackson Youth Basketball Camp, July 23-26

Posted on July 3rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area youth will have the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of basketball and life lessons as basketball stars Todd Mitchell and Jim Jackson host their annual basketball camp at Owens Community College, July 23-26. This marks the fifth year that the annual basketball camp is being held at Owens Community College.

The four-day youth basketball camp runs from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Camp instructors for the four-day event will include college and professional basketball standouts Mitchell and Jackson, as well as area high school coaches and current and former collegiate basketball players. Boys and girls entering grades 5-12 will receive instruction on various basketball skills, highlighted by ball handling, passing, shooting, defense and rebounding.

Additionally, participants will learn about teamwork, eating healthy and making the right decisions in life. Attendees will also be evaluated on their skill level and compete in games and a variety of contests.

The camp registration fee is $100 per participant and space is limited. Lunch is provided daily. For more information, call (419) 902-5719 or (419) 340-1303.

Over 500 Denim Items Given New Life through Owens and Local Child’s National Collection Drive Initiative

Posted on July 3rd, 2012

Owens Environmental Club student representative Hannah Jacobs of Luckey (left) assists Amy Hansen and Erek Hansen, both Curtice residents, in sorting the donated denim materials.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Environmental Club is raising environmental awareness by bringing new life to worn-out jeans, jackets and purses previously destined for overcrowded landfills. As a result of the student group’s recent collection drive efforts, over 500 denim items will soon find their way to “COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN. ®” and given “new life” as part of the environmental program’s UltraTouch National Cotton Fiber Insulation.

The Environmental Club recently presented the denim materials to Eisenhower Middle School sixth grader Erek Hansen of Curtice to assist in his personal goal of collecting over 5,000 items for the “COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN. ®” program. Last year, the 11-year-old collected 3,920 denim items.

“I like to keep the jeans out of the landfill,” explained Hansen. “We have become wasteful and I want to conserve our resources.”

He added, “I want thank Owens Community College for their donation. It really means a lot to me. It is neat to see that people really care about our environment and recycling.”

Owens’ recent denim collection drive initiative is part of a nationwide effort with the “®COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.” environmental program. Founded in 2006, the denim program gives “new life” to used items by converting them to UltraTouch National Cotton Fiber Insulation. The insulation is then provided to communities in need to assist with building efforts. UltraTouch is composed of 85 percent recycled cotton fibers and is an environmentally safe, non-itch insulation without carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde or chemical irritants.

Since the start of the “®COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.” denim drive in 2006, the program has received a total of over 500,000 pieces of denim and provided enough UltraTouch National Cotton Fiber Insulation for approximately 1.5 million square feet of insulation to assist with building efforts for communities in need.

Owens Community College to Host Crime Scene Investigator Youth Camp, Aug. 7-9

Posted on July 2nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area youth ages 13 through 17 will have the opportunity to become a detective for several days and learn how the world of forensic science is used in solving a crime as Owens Community College serves as host to a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Youth Camp, Aug. 7-9.

The CSI Youth Camp will be offered at the College’s Center for Emergency Preparedness, which is located on Tracy Road in Lake Township. The camp will take place Tuesday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

“Owens Community College is proud to offer an educational camp in which students will learn how to solve a crime using actual forensic skills,” said Michael Cornell, Owens Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness. “Attendees will not know if they solved the crime until the last day of camp when the SWAT team raids a building and captures the villain, which will make for an exciting end to the CSI Youth Camp experience.”

Working with a forensic team, each student detective will have the opportunity to enter a re-creation of an unusual and challenging crime scene where an instructor will direct and coach the students as they use deductive skills, teamwork, math and science to solve the crime. Each camp attendee will be trained in the basic process of evidence collection that includes fingerprints, fibers and hair, blood spatter (simulated), DNA, and tire and shoe prints.

Additionally, student detectives will learn how to protect the chain of evidence as they interview witnesses and develop theories while working as a team to solve the crime. During the last day of camp, each attendee will make a presentation detailing their theories of the crime and identifying the perpetrators of the criminal activity. Each team presentation will be critiqued by a panel of law enforcement officers and forensic scientists.

For more information, or to register, call (567) 661-2411 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2411.

Dr. Mike Bower Begins Owens Community College Presidency July 1

Posted on June 28th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Dr. Mike Bower officially begins his appointment as the sixth President and Chief Executive Officer in the 47-year history of Owens Community College July 1.

The Owens Board of Trustees unanimously approved Bower’s selection as President and Chief Executive Officer during their board meeting in March.

“As I researched Owens Community College via website during the presidential search, I was impressed with the College vision statement with reference to excellence, innovation and collaboration,” explained President Bower. “My vision for Owens Community College is to be recognized for our expertise in utilizing emerging technologies through innovative ideas from both our internal and external stakeholders, as we continuously improve our quality programs with the ever-changing nature to advance higher education in this region through excellence, innovation and collaboration. Owens Community College will continue to strengthen the capacity to be responsive to student needs by working closely together to share resources.”

President Bower added, “I look forward to serving Owens Community College and collaborating with our educational, industry and community partners to raise and leverage resources for education and workforce training. Together, our shared sense of purpose is to improve lives and to enrich our communities, which we do through the success of our graduates and students.”

Bower begins his presidency with more than 17 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member and administrator in North Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Indiana. He also spent more than 19 years working in various leadership positions of business and industry with Ford Motor Co. and Thomson Consumer Electrics (formerly RCA) in Indiana and Ohio.

Since July 2008, Bower served as the President of Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D. Lake Region State College is a student-centered, open access, comprehensive community college within the North Dakota University System. The college is committed to providing quality academic education, vocational/technical training, workforce training, educational outreach opportunities and life-long learning with an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students.

Under his leadership, Lake Region State expanded educational opportunities in a number of academic areas with the overall goal of enhancing student learning and community economic success, highlighted by securing state funding of $2.6 million for a 1.6 G.E. megawatt wind turbine to support the green initiative and provide current technology for the wind technician program. He also testified for appropriated dollars in the amount of $4.6 million for the technology center expansion and renovation for nursing, optimized agriculture, simulator electronics, automotive and wind programs. New innovative academic programs and hand-on learning resources unveiled within the last several years include wind energy technician, fitness trainer technician, nursing, American Sign Language and interpretive studies, and simulator technology.

His advocacy for higher education also includes reaching out and engaging community and educational partners through the academic institution’s Community College Foundation as well as through legislative support and strategic planning specific to local and regional community support to the college for student learning and career success.

Previously, Bower served as Executive Dean for Extension Campuses/Continuing Education/Corporate Services at Mott Community College in Flint, Mich. from 2004-08 where he provided leadership and oversight for the day-to-day operations of five divisions, which included Lapeer Campus, Southern Lakes Campus, Northern Tier Campus, Continuing Education and the Livingston County Regional Michigan Technical Education Center. He also oversaw the University Center that houses such academic institutions as Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Wayne State University and Rochester College.

Prior to Mott Community College, Bower served as Campus Dean of Chippewa Falls at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Clair, Wis. from 2001-03 and held several academic leadership positions at Central Community College in Columbus, Neb. from 1997-2001. His professional background also includes serving as an Instructor at Ivy Tech State College and an Adjunct Instructor at Indiana University Kokomo, both located in Kokomo, Ind. He is a veteran and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.

Bower’s board-level professional and community involvement includes serving as a commissioner for the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Economic and Workforce Development, a state member for the National Council for Workforce Education, a member for the American Association of Community Colleges’ Voluntary Framework of Accountability for Workforce and Economic Development and an executive board member for the Council of North Central Two-Year Colleges. He also serves as a Higher Learning Commission Peer Review Corps Consultant-Evaluator and is a member of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

In addition, he has been awarded with a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International, advancing the Rotary’s goals of world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty.

President Bower earned a doctorate in education administration, curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Maumee resident holds a master of business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, a bachelor’s degree in industrial supervision from Indiana State University and an associate’s degree in automotive technology from Vincennes University.

Last year, the Board of Trustees announced that a national search for the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Owens Community College was underway to succeed Dr. Larry McDougle, who retired Sept. 30. John Satkowski, Vice President of Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer, has served as the College’s Interim President since the beginning of October. The presidential search process was led by Owens Board of Trustees Chair Dee Talmage, who served as Chair of the Presidential Search Committee.

The Board of Trustees enlisted the professional services of the global firm Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. to assist in conducting the presidential search. Heidrick & Struggles has a long and storied history of conducting searches nationwide as well as extensive experience in higher education.

Owens’ Community Terrace View Café Announces Evening Takeout Menu Selections, July 5-26

Posted on June 27th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents indecisive about Tuesday or Thursday evening dinner can now consider a delectable meal from Owens Community College as the Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs announce takeout menu selections in the community Terrace View Café during the month of July.

The student-run Terrace View Café is open to the public throughout the year. Owens’ restaurant, which is coordinated by the Department of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality, is located in College Hall Room 148 on the Toledo-area Campus. Area residents will be able to pick up their meals from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Terrace View Café. The cost per takeout is $6 and reservations are required. Beverages are not included with the takeout meal.

The menu selections were planned by culinary arts students in the techniques of healthy cooking class.

The Terrace View Café will be available to guests starting Thursday, July 5 with sautéed veal with wild mushrooms and leeks as the entrée. Upcoming takeout dates and entrée listings include July 10 (tenderloin of beef with blue cheese and herb crust), July 12 (Moroccan chicken pita sandwich), July 17 (red snapper en papillote with julienne vegetables), July 19 (jerk pork loin and mango salsa), July 24 (chicken stir-fry with soba noodles) and July 26 (goat cheese ravioli). A complete listing of dishes is available at www.owens.edu/terrace.

Owens Culinary Arts Program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in the rapidly growing culinary arts industry. Both the associate’s degree and certificate prepares students for food preparation positions in restaurants, hotels, health care facilities, resorts and country clubs.

In addition to Culinary Arts, the College offers an associate’s degree in Hospitality Management. As part of the program, students are provided with the skills and educational curriculum for a successful career in the diverse areas of hospitality management. Owens’ Hospitality Management Program prepares students for management and supervisory positions in hotels, restaurants, resorts and institutions.

Last year, Owens’ Department of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality unveiled a new Baking and Pastry Certificate Program for those individuals interested in becoming a professional baker or pastry chef.

Reservations must be made by 3 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the Tuesday takeout and 3 p.m. on Thursday prior to the Thursday takeout. For additional information about Owens’ Terrace View Café takeout menu selections, call (567) 661-7359 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7359. Individuals can also make a reservation by accessing the College’s website at www.owens.edu/terrace.

Owens’ Community Terrace View Café Announces Summer Semester Dine-in Menu, July 5-26

Posted on June 26th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to experience an array of delectable meals that emphasize healthy cooking at Owens Community College as the Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs unveil summer menu dine-in selections in the community Terrace View Café.

The student-run Terrace View Café is open to the public during the academic year. Owens’ restaurant, which is coordinated by the Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Department, is located in College Hall Room 148 on the Toledo-area Campus. The Terrace View Café will be open to area residents for lunch select Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Seating is limited and available until 12:15 p.m. and take out meals will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. The cost per lunch is $8.50 and reservations are required.

The menu selections were planned by culinary arts students in the techniques for healthy cooking classes. The classes take into account nutrition science, food preparation and menu strategies for healthy eating.

The Terrace View Café will be available to guests starting Thursday, July 5 with a healthy cuisine that features roasted pork loin with a white bean and rosemary sauce as the entrée. Upcoming Summer Semester dates and entrée listings include July 10 (summer vegetable quiche), July 12 (poached chicken breast), July 17 (salmon and spinach with sparkling wine butter sauce), July 19 (salmon and spinach with sparkling wine butter sauce), July 24 (broiled red snapper) and July 26 (broiled tilapia). Additionally, attendees have the opportunity to choose either a lacto-ovo vegetarian entrée or a Terrace chicken burger with the planned side dishes if desired. A complete listing of dishes is available at www.owens.edu/terrace.

Reservations must be made by 3 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the Tuesday luncheon and 3 p.m. on Thursday prior to the Thursday luncheon. For additional information about Owens’ Terrace View Café summer lunch menu, call (567) 661-7359 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7359. Individuals can also make a reservation by accessing the College’s website at www.owens.edu/terrace.

Owens Community College Faculty Member Chris Foley Receives National Educator of the Year Award

Posted on June 26th, 2012

Owens Associate Professor of Science Chris Foley (left) provides instruction to one of his classes.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Associate Professor of Science Chris Foley of Swanton has been chosen by the Professional Landcare Network Academic Excellence Foundation (PLANET AEF) to receive the prestigious 2012 Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for exemplary contributions and dedication to students and green industry education.

The Outstanding Educator of the Year Award, developed by the PLANET AEF in cooperation with the PLANET Accreditation Committee, recognizes professors who have made significant contributions to green industry education. Educators nominated for this award are recognized for devoting time, energy and enthusiasm to their programs and to the education of future leaders of the industry.

“I am honored to be mentioned with the previous Educator of the Year recipients and grateful for the amount of effort that my current students, alumni and faculty members put into the application process,” said Foley. “It is always nice to be recognized for your efforts. It is important to me that students find their passion like I have. Thank you PLANET for acknowledging educators in the green industry.”

Foley began his career in the green industry as an employee at Frank’s Nursery in Clawson, Mich. He later earned his bachelor’s degree in horticulture science from Michigan State University in 1982. After graduating from Michigan State, he worked at The Andersons in Toledo. From there, Foley began his 22-year educational teaching career at Owens Community College, whose programs include urban agriculture and sustainability, golf course and athletic field management, and landscape and turfgrass management.

Students and peers describe him as being extremely passionate about the subjects he teaches and having the ability to pass that enthusiasm on to his students. Additionally, he works tirelessly in advocating for experiential learning opportunities for his students highlighted by coordinating landscape installation projects involving area residents. Foley also leads student plant sale activities, which helps support the Owens Student Landscape Turfgrass Crew Club’s participation in the annual PLANET Student Career Days. The event is a national horticultural and landscape competition involving over 50 colleges and universities across the country.

His passion and enthusiasm extends beyond the classroom as he oversees a nursery in Swanton, which focuses on the production of rare and unusual trees and shrubs.

PLANET is an international association serving lawn care professionals, landscape management contractors, design/build/installation professionals and interior plantscapers. The organization provides its members with a good business foundation to help them evaluate, plan and better manage their companies. Over 3,800 green industry professionals are members of the PLANET.

For more information about the College’s natural sciences programs, call 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7623 or (567) 661-7623.

Owens Community College Announces New Gateway to College Program Application Process

Posted on June 26th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Representatives of Owens Community College, Toledo Public Schools and Gateway to College National Network recently joined community leaders to officially unveil details about the Gateway to College program and to announce the application process for prospective students. Owens is the only academic institution in Ohio to offer the program, which serves students who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out.

“Owens Community College is proud to extend this innovative educational program to young people in the Toledo Public Schools district and assist them in achieving their educational and career goals,” said Dr. Mary Rizza, Owens Director of Learning Communities/Gateway to College. “I encourage prospective students to consider this opportunity at a second chance to realize their fullest academic potential.”

Beginning Tuesday, June 26, area residents between the ages of 16 and 20 who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out are invited to apply for a fall 2012 start in the Gateway to College program. Prospective students must reside in the Toledo Public Schools district. Applications are available and must be returned to the College’s Gateway to College Office by Aug. 3. Fall classes begin Aug. 20.

In 2011, Owens was awarded a $325,000 start-up grant from Gateway to College National Network to implement Gateway to College, a nationally recognized dropout recovery program.

Gateway to College is designed for young adults ages 16 to 20 who have dropped out of high school or are significantly behind in credits and unlikely to graduate. The program enables them to complete their high school diploma requirements while simultaneously earning college credit toward an associate degree or certificate.

Up to 150 students from Toledo Public Schools will be served through the program over the next three years. Students must meet specific criteria for entrance into the program and will be dually enrolled at Toledo Public Schools and Owens Community College until they complete their high school diploma. The program is free to students and covers tuition, fees and books, as well as lunch and transportation to the College’s Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo.

Students are placed into small learning communities during their first (Foundation) term, and together they take classes in reading, writing, math and college skills. After completing the Foundation term, students transition to the comprehensive campus, taking classes with the general student population. Throughout their enrollment in the program, students receive one-on-one advising and support from resource specialists who act as coaches, mentors and advisors. The wrap-around support of the resource specialist keeps students on the right track for success.

Students graduate from Gateway to College once they have completed their high school diploma requirements. Nationally, Gateway to College students accrue an average of 35 college credits by the time they graduate from the program, putting them well on their way to earning a college credential.

Owens is one of 35 community and technical colleges across the country currently offering the Gateway to College program.

For more information about the Gateway to College program, call (567) 661-7241 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7241, or e-mail at gateway@owens.edu.

Owens Community College Closed for Independence Holiday, July 4

Posted on June 25th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, as well as the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee and the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo, will be closed on Wednesday, July 4 for the Independence Day holiday. There will be no classes and the College offices will be closed.

Administrative offices will open again and classes will resume on Thursday, July 5.

Owens Students and Toledo Seagate Food Bank Present Free Community Health and Wellness Fair, June 26-27

Posted on June 25th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to learn about ways to make their lives more enjoyable through healthy living as Owens Community College’s School of Nursing and the Toledo Seagate Food Bank present a free Community Health and Wellness Fair, Tuesday-Wednesday, June 26-27.

The health event will occur from 12-2 p.m. (June 26) and from 1-3 p.m. (June 27) at the Toledo Seagate Food Bank, which is located on High Street in Toledo. The Community Health and Wellness Fair, which is free and open to the public, is presented by Owens students as part of a serving learning project.

Attendees will have the opportunity to gain practical health information from a variety of displays outlining a diverse array of topics, including heart health, stress prevention and diabetes, and how to stay cool during the summer months, among others.

Additionally, individuals will be able to test their personal health through free blood pressure screenings both days.

The Toledo Seagate Food Bank was founded with the overall mission of eliminating hunger. The non-profit organization provides service to 18 Northwest Ohio counties and distributes over 15 million pounds of food annually to over 500 organizational programs such as food pantries, community resource centers, churches, soup kitchens, senior centers, rehabilitation and low-income housing service agencies.

For more information about the event, call (567) 661-2275 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2275.

Owens Community College and Connect Ohio Announce New Findlay Educational Location and Free Computer Classes in July

Posted on June 21st, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Area residents interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills with computers and the Internet are invited to participate in free continuing education computer classes as Owens Community College and the non-profit Connect Ohio organization announce training opportunities during the month of July.

Additionally, Owens and Connect Ohio are expanding the free offerings by unveiling a new educational site location in Findlay. Beginning Tuesday, July 10, individuals will be able to attend free computer classes at Hancock County JOBsolutions (7746 County Road 140) in Findlay. The College and Connect Ohio also offers classes at the Owens Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo, the Owens Learning Center at Arrowhead Park in Maumee, the Owens Findlay-area Campus in Findlay and JobSolutions of Wood County in Bowling Green.

The educational initiative, titled Every Citizen Online, is led by Connect Ohio as part of a $6.9 million federal grant the organization has received to help expand access to broadband Internet to consumers across the state. Each class will highlight computer basics, an introduction to the Internet and discussion about how broadband can be helpful in daily life.

The upcoming six-hour computer classes will take place July 10 and 12 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Hancock County JOBsolutions in Findlay. Classes will also occur July 17 and 24 from 1-4 p.m. at the Owens Learning Center at The Source and July 18-19 from 1-4 p.m. at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center. The final computer class session will be held at JobSolutions of Wood County in Bowling Green July 20 and 27 from 1-4 p.m.

Connect Ohio is a non-profit public-private partnership, whose mission is to see all Ohioans connected to the benefits of high-speed Internet service. The organization’s federal grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

Advance registration is required for all classes. For more information, or to register for the free classes, individuals can contact the College’s Workforce and Community Services at (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Community College to Host Free ‘Key to Safe Teen Driving’ Program, June 26-27

Posted on June 18th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area teenagers ages 15 to 20, with a valid driver’s license or driving permit, interested in enhancing their knowledge about safe driving are invited to attend a free Honda Teen Defensive Driving Program titled “Key to Safe Teen Driving” at Owens Community College, Tuesday-Wednesday, June 26-27.

Presented by AAA Northwest Ohio, KeyBank, The Mid-Ohio School, Kumho Tires and Owens Community College, the free two-day “Key to Safe Teen Driving” class will occur from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Center for Emergency Preparedness’ emergency vehicle operations and driving course on the Toledo-area Campus. The Center for Emergency Preparedness’ emergency vehicle operations and driving course is located on Tracy Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to once again collaborate with AAA Northwest Ohio, KeyBank, The Mid-Ohio School and Kumho Tires and provide this unique community outreach opportunity for area residents to expand their knowledge about safe driving,” said Michael Cornell, Owens Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness.

The free “Key to Safe Teen Driving” class will offer four separate sessions each day for area residents. The sessions will begin at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. and include a classroom session and hands-on drills involving wet-braking, skid control and emergency lane change maneuvers. The wet-braking and emergency lane change drills will be conducted using each participant’s street-legal automobile. Attendees are asked to remove all items from their vehicle’s trunk and any loose items in the passenger compartment, as well as check tire pressure and fluid levels prior to the program.

Program instruction will include the physics and dynamics of driving, defensive driving and responsible behavior, wet-braking, emergency lane changes and collision-avoidance, slalom and weight-transfer maneuvers, and adverse weather conditions, among many other topics. Experiential learning will take place in each participant’s own vehicle as well as in the program’s Honda Civic Skid Car. Vehicle maintenance and a tire changing demonstration will also occur during the program. The class will be taught by professional driving instructors from The Mid-Ohio School, which has offered performance driving and defensive driving programs for adults and teenagers since 1993.

The “Key to Safe Teen Driving” class was established in 2009 by KeyBank with the overall goal of improving the driving skills of teen drivers and raising awareness about the need for better training of young drivers. This year’s program features 14 events in 14 communities throughout Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin.

In addition to holding a valid driver’s license or driving permit, participants must show proof insurance and have use of a vehicle for the event. For more information or to register, call (877) 793-8667 or access the website www.keytosafeteendriving.com.

Area Middle School Students to Explore Healthy Living During First-Ever ‘Gotta Have Heart’ Program at Owens, June 25-28

Posted on June 13th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area middle school students will have the opportunity to learn about ways to make their lives more enjoyable through healthy living, as well as explore health and science in an engaging environment, as Owens Community College serves as host to the first-ever “Gotta Have Heart” educational outreach program, June 25-28.

The educational program will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday (June 25-28) in several locations on Owens’ Toledo-area Campus, including Health Technologies Hall, the Math/Science Center, Alumni Hall and the Center for Emergency Preparedness. The College is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Owens’ “Gotta Have Heart” will feature eight different themed activities throughout the week. Themes will include medical terminology, heart anatomy, heart physiology, medical sonography, nutrition, exercise science, CPR and dental hygiene. Workshop participants will engage in activities focused on heart structure. Individuals will identify parts of medical terms, identify heart anatomical structures, record electrical activity of the heart using an EKG machine and visualize the human heart with real-time sonographic imaging, as well as analyze the nutritional content of selected meals and discuss the relationship between dental and heart health, among other topics.

Additionally, several speakers from Owens will provide educational presentations in conjunction with hands-on laboratory sessions.

Spring Pinning Ceremony Honors Registered Nursing Students at Owens

Posted on June 13th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Over 70 Owens Community College students were recently bestowed honorary pins by the Nursing Department for their academic achievements specific to registered nursing during a ceremony on the Toledo-area Campus. The pinning ceremony is part of a traditional nursing practice, which honors students prior to beginning their careers within the health care community.

“Owens Community College is extremely honored to recognize our students for their hard work and dedication toward achieving their educational aspirations,” said Ruth Ankele, Owens Chair of Nursing. “The registered nursing students have exhibited academic excellence at the highest level and are very deserving of their honorary pins.”

The nurse pinning ceremony originated in the 1860s at St. Thomas Hospital’s Nightingale School of Nursing in London, England. Having been recently awarded The Red Cross of St. George for her selfless service to the injured and dying in the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale chose to extend the honor she received to her most outstanding graduate nurses by awarding each of them a medal of excellence. The practice of awarding nurses a badge was adopted soon after, and the first pin was awarded to the Class of 1880 at the Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing in New York City.

Registered nurse pinning recipients are Renna Ahir of Holland, Sarah Aschemeier of Defiance, Jennifer Beachler of Woodville, Anne Beckham of Sylvania, Antanai Brown of Toledo, Kenneth Brown of Toledo, Stacy Brown of Haskins, Alyssa Burk of Defiance, Jamie Burns of Toledo, Roberta Camara of Toledo, Christie Casati of Findlay, Jennifer Clark of Toledo, Heather Cole of Oregon, Lisa Cooley of Tiffin, Jennifer Cooper of Toledo, Isaiah Cruz of Defiance, Lisa Darrington of Sylvania, Debra DeBrosse of Toledo, Lori Durbin-Warner of Toledo, Felicia Ebai of Toledo, Andrea Eier of Findlay, Dennis Eisel of Berkey, Crystal Estrada of Upper Sandusky, Joanne Fankhauser of Sylvania, Carrie Ganues of Toledo, Sarah Gerkensmeyer of Genoa, Lori Gettings of Sylvania, Amanda Goodwin of Leipsic, Danielle Hedean of Hamler, Beverly Helms of Kansas, Alayna Hill of Toledo, Tamara Hosley of North Baltimore, Lay Mandy of Genoa, Nicole Linhart of Findlay, Mati Charlemagne of Perrysburg, Richard Mesley of Toledo, Jessica Meyers of Liberty Center, Christine Miller of Walbridge and Andrea Mitchell of Temperance, Mich.

Registered nursing students also receiving pinning honors include Brent Monday of Arlington, Cresta Montgomery of Findlay, Sara Moore of Fostoria, Katie Orten of Toledo, Shannon O’Shea of Rudolph, Rufina Paniagua-Escamilla of Leipsic, Elizabeth Pasztor of Pemberville, Veronica Pecina of Maumee, Stephanie Pennington of Delta, Lindsey Pettengill of Maumee, Amanda Ponn of Findlay, Colleen Rader of Deshler, Jeannie Ricker of Fostoria, Arletta Rodgers of Toledo, Darcy Rose of Toledo, Grace Royce of Toledo, Alicia Scherger of Tiffin, Robert Schlachter of Sylvania, Amanda Sheldon of Maumee, Shelley Simon of Metamora, Stephanie Stauffer of Rawson, Marisa Stevens of Toledo, Jeremy Stiles of Waterville, Elizabeth Strong of Arlington, Brittany Sutherland of Perrysburg, Shelly Taylor of Toledo, Tiffany Thomas of Tiffin, Lanita Vance of Toledo, Nicole VanNess of Woodville, Elizabeth Vary of Toledo, Christy Walen of Toledo, Tamika Walker of Toledo, Zachary Wasserman of Swanton, Clara Welsh of Toledo, Corine Williams of Toledo and Tiffany Williams of Toledo.

Owens’ registered nursing program was established in 1969 as one of first associate degree programs of its kind in Northwest Ohio. The academic program was later expanded to the Findlay-area Campus in 1991.

Owens’ registered nursing program requires 73 credit hours of coursework, which includes courses in nutrition, nursing concepts, pharmacology, psychology, nursing skills, adult health issues, anatomy and physiology, obstetrics, pediatrics and geriatrics, as well as other program course requirements. Following graduation, students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination to become a registered nurse.

The registered nursing program is designed to prepare graduates for nursing positions in a variety of health care settings. Among the various locations are acute care agencies, physician offices, long-term care agencies and outpatient ambulatory areas. The program combines studies at Owens with planned and guided clinical experience in client care for health care facilities and community agencies.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Students and Organization Receive Board of Trustees Excellence Awards

Posted on June 13th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Owens Community College students Molly Sampson of Mount Blanchard and Jodie Cutlip of Vanlue, as well as Owens Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association, have been chosen by the Board of Trustees Student Life Committee to receive student excellence awards for their commitment to academics, community engagement, student leadership and involvement in student life.

Both Sampson and Cutlip received the Certificate of Recognition for Exceptional Student Leadership, while the Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association was honored with the Certificate of Recognition for Extraordinary Community Engagement. The recipients were recognized for their achievements at the College’s recent Board of Trustees meeting.

Sampson was nominated by Irene Lindquist, Lacey Mitchell and Daribel Brown for her outstanding leadership and student involvement while volunteering as a peer educator for New Student Orientation and as a welcome greeter and Explore Owens tour guide in addition to her role as a student worker team leader in Enrollment Services on the Findlay-area Campus. Her major is communication studies.

Cutlip, an accounting major, was nominated by Matthew Gosses for her exemplary leadership and service to her fellow students and the community, specifically while serving as president of the College’s Beta Xi Chi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. During her tenure as president, Cutlip has provided extraordinary leadership to student members and assisted in engaging the chapter in service throughout the Findlay community.

Additionally, the Findlay-area Campus Student Nursing Association was nominated by Melanie Scherdt and Heather Franks for the student group’s service to the community through their annual toy drive initiative for hospitalized children, as well as advocacy in promoting health and wellness in the surrounding communities.

The Board of Trustees Student Life Committee was chartered to recognize and celebrate students who demonstrate the College’s core values of service, learning, innovation, collaboration and excellence through their achievements in academics, community engagement or involvement in student leadership and student life.

Any individual may nominate an Owens student or a group of students who demonstrate achievements specific to the award categories of Exemplary Academic Achievement, Extraordinary Community Engagement or Volunteerism and Exceptional Student Leadership or Student Life Involvement. The awards are presented regularly to student recipients during Board of Trustees meetings.

The College’s Board of Trustees is comprised of seven community leaders from Lucas, Wood, Hancock and Sandusky counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms. Owens Board of Trustees members include David Habegger of Oregon, Allan J. Libbe of Perrysburg, Dr. Ronald A. McMaster of Perrysburg, R J Molter of Woodville, Richard Rowe of Findlay, Diana H. Talmage of Ottawa Hills and William E. Takacs of Toledo.

Owens Community College Names New Director of Learning Communities/Gateway to College

Posted on June 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College has named Dr. Mary Rizza as the new Director of Learning Communities/Gateway to College. Her responsibilities will include overseeing all administrative aspects related to the planning, leadership and management of the College’s learning communities and the Gateway to College initiatives at the academic institution.

In addition, her new position will entail supervising the implementation of program curriculum, serving the educational needs of non-traditional students through innovative services and the development of community partnerships to enhance educational opportunities and resources for current and future students. Rizza will also provide oversight for Gateway to College student outreach, recruitment, orientation and selection processes.

“Student recruitment and retention are pressing issues across the nation and Owens Community College is at the forefront of making a difference for students who might not otherwise see higher education as an option,” said Rizza. “I am proud to be joining such a dedicated group of professionals and look forward to working collaboratively across campus to increase opportunities for all students.”

Prior to her new position at Owens, Rizza served as a School Psychologist for Partners for Success and Innovation in Twinsburg since 2011. While with Partners for Success and Innovation, she was responsible for providing psychological services to kindergarten through 12th grade schools in the Toledo area. She also served as an Adjunct Instructor in Social and Behavioral Sciences and in Teacher Education and Human Services and has taught various academic courses in such areas as psychology and educational psychology for the past two years.

Previously, Rizza served as an Educational Consultant for Gifted Services in the Office for Exceptional Children at the Ohio Department of Education from 2008-09 where she provided educational support and guidance to organizations throughout Ohio in the areas of testing, identification and education of exceptional students. She has been living in Northwest Ohio since 2002 when she joined the faculty at Bowling Green State University as an Associate Professor and Director of Gifted Programs.

Her professional involvement includes membership with the Ohio Association for Gifted Children Board of Governors and Governing Authority President for Bridges Community Academy, as well as Editor of “The OAGC Review” and a Reviewer for “Gifted Child Quarterly”. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Council for Exceptional Children – TAG Division and the Association for the Education of Gifted Underachieving Students.

The Bowling Green resident holds a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut, master’s degrees in school psychology and gifted education from College of New Rochelle and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Queens College.

Owens Names New School of Health Sciences Dean

Posted on June 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College has named Dr. Douglas Mead as the new Dean of the School of Health Sciences. His responsibilities will include overseeing all academic programs, as well as various activities and instructional initiatives within the School.

In addition, his new position will entail supervising the development and implementation of new academic curricula, directing the on-going evaluation of the School’s courses and overseeing the assessment of student learning, articulation and transfer agreements, and the development of community partnerships to enhance educational opportunities and resources for current and future students.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected for this position,” said Mead. “The exceptional faculty, staff and administration that make up the School of Health Sciences have truly established elite programs of study and services for the Northwest Ohio community. I look forward to continuing the tradition of academic excellence.”

Mead added, “Serving as Fine and Performing Arts Chair has been a significant highlight for me both personally and professionally. I have no doubt that the department will continue to perform at a superior level.”

Since August 2008, Mead has served as the College’s Chair of Fine and Performing Arts where he has been responsible for the overall leadership of the department and its academic programs, including the establishment of Interior Design, Music Business Technology and Commercial Photography degree programs in the last two years. Additionally, he provided oversight and guidance in the development, revision and enhancement of academic curricula, oversaw departmental advisory committees and is continuously furthering collaborative efforts with area businesses and industry for the betterment of advancing higher education opportunities for students in Department of Fine and Performing Arts. His campus involvement includes serving on the College’s AQIP Planning Council, Student Activities Quality Team, Faculty Development Committee and Student Learning Assessment Committee.

Mead also has provided leadership in coordinating the integration of Taskstream for all academic programs at the College and assisted in the planning and implementation for the U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant.

In addition to his current responsibilities as Fine and Performing Arts Chair, Mead has served as the Co-Interim Dean of the School of Health Sciences since July 2011 where he has provided administrative oversight for the School.

Prior to his positions at Owens, he was Chair of Humanities and Fine Arts at Lincoln Memorial University from 2006-08. His responsibilities included providing leadership, assessment and guidance of academic programs within the department. He also served as Assistant Professor of Music and Program Director at Lincoln Memorial from 2005-08.

He currently serves as the Northwest Region Chair for the Ohio Music Educators Association and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Toledo Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corp. His professional and community involvement includes membership with the International Double Reed Society and the College Music Society.

The Perrysburg resident earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Miami, a master’s degree in music from Yale University and a doctorate in music from the University of Miami.

Owens Community College Receives $1.2 Million Federal Upward Bound Grant to Enhance Student Success

Posted on June 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College has been selected among academic institutions nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education to receive a $1,250,000 Upward Bound grant through the Federal TRIO Programs to help students achieve success in their pursuit of a high school and college education.

Owens will partner with Woodward High School, Rogers High School and Toledo Preparatory Academy and provide educational outreach to 60 students as part of the five-year grant initiative, which begins in September 2012.

“Owens Community College is honored to be named the recipient of an Upward Bound grant by the U.S. Department of Education,” said Tamara Williams, Owens Associate Vice Provost of Academic Services and Retention. “Providing students with the necessary educational resources to succeed in their academic pursuits is crucial to the learning process. This grant will enable our academic institution to work with students and their parents in a variety of ways that will strengthen academic performance in high school and college.”

Once admitted to Owens’ Upward Bound Program, students will engage in a variety of activities and services during the academic year and in the summer throughout their high school and college careers. Students will participate in college visits, educational field trips and career exploration opportunities, as well as attend weekly tutoring, advising and test preparation sessions. Educational services will also include monthly workshops on financial aid, admissions and the registration process, post secondary enrollment and scholarship assistance, among other outreach opportunities. Additionally, parent workshops will be offered to help acclimate them to being a parent of a college-bound student.

During the summer and academic year, students will attend several classes including Preparing to Succeed in College, Career and Life Decisions, and College Study Skills as part of their educational experience. Coursework will feature such academic learning areas as test preparation, job shadowing and resume building, reading strategies, time management and managing academic content.

As part of the federal grant, Owens will also implement a new Upward Bound Summer Bridge Program for Upward Bound recent graduates to help them successfully transition from high school to college. Owens currently offers a Summer Bridge to Success Program to any high school graduate from public and private high schools, as well as career centers, within the College’s legal district.

The Federal TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide service for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities to progress through their academic careers from middle school to post baccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects.

The Upward Bound grant is designed to provide fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. The overall goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate institutions of postsecondary education.

Owens Express Golf to Hold Open Tryouts, June 18-20

Posted on June 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Prospective high school graduates and area residents interested in playing intercollegiate golf at Owens Community College are invited to a three-day open qualifier Monday-Wednesday, June 18-20.

The first day Monday, June 18 of the open tryouts will begin at 8 a.m. and take place at Maumee Bay State Park Golf Course in Oregon. The second round of the three-day qualifier will occur on Tuesday, June 19 with a start time at 8 a.m. at Loudon Meadows Golf Club in Fostoria. The final round will take place on Wednesday, June 20 at Lakeland Golf Course in Fostoria. Open tryouts on Friday begin at 8:30 a.m.

The Express golf team captured and/or finished tied for four match and invitational titles during the season, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Championship Invitational. The program also finished second in the NJCAA Region XII Sub-Regional championship after a round of 316 at Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg. Additionally, Owens placed fourth in the NJCAA Region XII Golf Championship.

Registration is required prior to open tryouts and the green fee for the three-day tournament is $29. For more information on the open tryouts, call (567) 661-2643 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2643, or (419) 356-4874.

Owens Community College and Walters Family Awards First-Ever Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Scholarship

Posted on June 11th, 2012

Owens student Amber Gonzales poses for a photo with the Walters Family following the awarding of the first Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Scholarship at the Walters Family 5K Run in Millbury.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College student Amber Gonzales of Findlay has been chosen by the Walters Family to receive a $500 Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Scholarship for the upcoming 2012-13 academic year.

Established in 2011, the endowed scholarship honors the legacy of Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters and their commitment to lifelong learning. The scholarship is given annually to an Owens student at the Walters Family 5K Run with aspirations of careers in early childhood education, information systems, computer programming and computer systems.

“On behalf of the Walters’ family, extended family, friends, local community and the Walters’ Family 5K Committee, it is truly an honor to present the Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Scholarship to Amber Gonzales,” said Robin Arquette, who is the sister of Ryan Walters. “It gives us great joy and pride to be able to assist in helping students in the community achieve their educational goals.”

Selection criteria for the scholarship is based upon recipients being enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours at Owens per semester and achieving a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Additionally, preference is given to a student who is majoring in early childhood education, information systems, computer programming and computer systems. Scholarship applicants also must state how they will utilize their college degree to give back to the community in which they live in the form of an essay.

Gonzales is pursuing her associate’s degree in early childhood education and aspires to work with children as a teacher at a child care center. The 2010 Buckeye Online School for Success graduate ultimately envisions a career as an elementary school guidance counselor. In addition to her educational studies, Gonzales works part-time at Brinkman’s County Corner in Findlay. She also is gaining hands-on experience in learning about the development of young children while serving as a student worker at the College’s Child Care Center on the Findlay-area Campus.

“I want a career I am fully in love with,” explained Gonzales. “My goal is to make a child’s day brighter and feel secure. When I help a child to accomplish something that is meaningful to them, I feel honored. Receiving this scholarship will surely help me to achieve my careers goals.”

In June 2010, Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters lost their lives as a result of a tornado and damaging storms that devastated the Northwest Ohio region. The Walters Family 5K Run was established to honor the seven victims of the June 5, 2010 tornado. Proceeds from the race benefit the Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Owens and Ohio Tactical Officers Association Announce New SWAT School Training Site Partnership

Posted on June 11th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Center for Emergency Preparedness has earned the distinction of being named the new statewide SWAT School for the Ohio Tactical Officers Association (OTOA).

The College will serve as the new home for basic and advanced SWAT training, sniper training and various other tactical operations involving law enforcement tactical operators, tactical teams and first responders throughout Ohio as part of the new partnership with OTOA.

“Owens Community College is proud to partner with the Ohio Tactical Officers Association and provide new innovative educational training opportunities for public safety personnel throughout Ohio,” said Michael Cornell, Owens Director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness. “We look forward to assisting the Ohio Tactical Officers Association advance their mission of providing educational resources, tactical information and tactical training to enhance overall situational awareness and preparedness.”

Beginning Monday, June 11, Owens, in collaboration with OTOA, will provide the first basic SWAT School training session to 20 students. The 40-hour training course offers insight into such areas as SWAT organization and equipment, covert movement in a chemical agent environment, and individual and team movement techniques, as well as chemical agents and less-lethal familiarization, and high risk warrant service. Owens’ course also provides hands-on learning through field training exercises. The curriculum is based on the National Standard set forth through the National Tactical Officers Association and is taught by OTOA and area SWAT instructors. The first basic SWAT School class will conclude educational training on Friday, June 15.

City and township police departments participating in the first training school are Perrysburg Township Police Department, Perrysburg City Police Department, Lake Township Police Department, Northwood Police Department, Oregon Police Department, Walbridge Police Department, Pemberville Police Department, Waterville Police Department and Owens, among several other agencies. CSX Corp. is also attending the College’s first basic SWAT School.

In addition to serving as the new SWAT School training site for OTOA, Owens’ Center for Emergency Preparedness will host the state organization’s annual training conference May 20-24, 2013. Over 900 law enforcement officers and tactical operators from across Ohio are expected to attend the five-day event.

The Ohio Tactical Officers Association is a professional non-profit police association dedicated to providing networking opportunities and communication links to law enforcement tactical operators, tactical teams and first responders in order to provide educational resources, tactical information and tactical training to enhance overall situational awareness and preparedness on all levels.

Owens has been at the forefront in providing educational training to public safety forces for over three decades. In 2009, the College invested in the future of emergency preparedness training within the region by officially opening the doors to a new $3.2 million Training and Operations Center at the Center for Emergency Preparedness. The facility provides first responders with expanded opportunities for real-world, scenario training highlighted by the only indoor emergency services virtual training system in the country.

In 2007, Owens marked a milestone in the academic institution’s history by opening a $20.5 million Center for Emergency Preparedness. The Center for Emergency Preparedness fulfills a need for a rather expansive complex within the region that can provide “real-world” training in a safe and controlled environment. Training scenarios that can be conducted within the new facility include those related to natural and manmade disasters involving hazardous materials, confined spaces, riots, entrapments and weapons of mass destruction, among others. Since opening the facility, police, fire and emergency services personnel, as well as the military, from Ohio and beyond, including the FBI, Ohio National Guard and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, have utilized the facility for either specialized or concurrent emergency preparedness training.

Owens Community College to Host American Harp Society Day Ensemble Concert, June 21

Posted on June 7th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents with a passion and enjoyment of music are invited to attend a unique ensemble performance featuring 14 harpists as Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts serves as host to the 15th annual American Harp Society Day Ensemble Concert on Thursday, June 21.

Presented by the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the American Harp Society, the concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The performance is free and open to the public.

“The Northwest Ohio Chapter of the American Harp Society is very excited to once again collaborate with Owens Community College and present a fun and dazzling performance for the surrounding communities,” said Denise Grupp-Verbon, Owens Adjunct Instructor of Fine and Performing Arts and Co-Founder of Harp Week. “This year’s concert will feature 14 harpists of various ages and diverse backgrounds. Attendees will not be disappointed with the musical variety and stylistic flourishes of this year’s presentation.”

The concert is the culmination of Harp Week, which is four days (June 18-21) of ensemble rehearsals and practical application workshops sponsored in part by the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the American Harp Society and the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts. This year, Owens Assistant Professor of Fine and Performing Arts Eric Wallack will provide a guest workshop as part of the event. Harp Week is open to any harpist who has played for at least one year.

Harpists ranging from beginners to professionals will be strumming both familiar and original tunes throughout the evening concert.

The American Harp Society was founded in 1962 in response to the growing needs of harpists as performers, teachers and students. Its mission is to encourage and cultivate the enjoyment of the harp as a musical instrument, to support the composition of the music and to advance the quality of ability for performing harpists. The society has flourished since its founding and now consists of more than 3,000 members with chapters throughout the world.

The Northwest Ohio Chapter was established in the mid 1970s with the mission of preserving, promoting and presenting the harp and its music in the community. The chapter’s initiatives include promoting the study of the harp by providing scholarship opportunities and instruments and serving as a co-sponsor of Harp Week since its inception in 1998.

Individuals participating in Harp Week and the concert are Alicia Allen of Toledo, Caili Bonar of Whitehouse, Emily Cihon of Maumee, Elise Clines of Maumee, Sydney Conard of Perrysburg, Gabriella Crisp of Metamora, Hannah Kloster of Perrysburg, Jennifer Meehan of Toledo, Kaitlynn McCamey of Perrysburg, Debbie Roberts of Toledo, Denise Grupp-Verbon of Toledo (Co-Founder and Co-Director) and Nancy Lendrim of Sylvania (Co-Founder and Co-Director).

For more information about the concert, contact the Owens Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

61 High School Graduates Begin Educational Journey Through Owens’ Free Summer Bridge Program, June 11-12

Posted on June 7th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Sixty-one area high school graduates from public and private high schools, as well as career centers, within the College’s legal district will have the opportunity to experience a taste of college life for free prior to the beginning of their first Fall Semester at Owens Community College as the academic institution announces the 2012 Bridge to Success Program student class on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The free program is designed to help first-year students successfully transition from high school to college.

Owens’ summer program begins with Bridge to Success Kick-Off Celebrations from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. June 11 and 12 on the College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The kick-off event will take place on Monday, June 11 in the Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 123 and 125 on the Toledo-area Campus, while kick-off festivities will occur on Tuesday, June 12 in the Conference Center Room 111 on the Findlay-area Campus.

Both events will begin with opening remarks, introductions and a keynote address from 9-9:50 a.m. Attendees will also engage in a variety of activities, as well as hear from Owens representatives and Bridge to Success Program staff and peer advocates from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The event will conclude with a Bridge to Success Program induction ceremony at 1:30 p.m. for participating students. Forty-four students are participating in the Bridge to Success Program on the Toledo-area Campus, while 17 students are engaged in the free educational outreach initiative on the Findlay-area Campus.

This marks the first year that the program has been made available to all students within the College’s legal district, which encompasses Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties and parts of Ottawa and Sandusky counties. Previously, the program was offered to only high schools associated with the College’s Success Program initiative.

Owens’ seven-week comprehensive summer program features an array of academic initiatives, including academic preparation, exposure to campus life, mentoring, coaching and embracing the expectations of college-level studies. Additionally, Bridge to Success Program participants have the opportunity to participate in several academic workshops designed to promote enhanced learning and develop necessary study and life skills for college success. Students also learn and obtain an in-depth understanding of the language, culture and resources of Owens through participation in the College’s First Year Experience “Bootcamp” class and in mathematics, reading, writing and computer seminars and workshops.

In addition, each attendee is provided with a faculty, staff or Bridge peer mentor during the seven-week academic program and through the first year of their college experience. Students receive free academic textbooks and become part of a learning community with block scheduling for the first year of college with a focus on math and English courses.

In order to be eligible for the Bridge to Success Program, prospective students must be high school graduates within the last academic year and have passed all parts of the Ohio Graduation Test unless there was an exemption. Students do not need to be federal Pell grant funding eligible for participation in the Bridge to Success Program. Over 200 students have participated in Bridge to Success since the program was established in 2008.

Owens Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery Presents ‘Images’ Exhibit, June 11 – Sept. 14

Posted on June 5th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – An array of artwork that showcases the beauty of glass will adorn the walls at Owens Community College as the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery, in collaboration with the Habatat Gallery in Royal Oak, Mich., presents the exhibit titled “Images”, June 11 – Sept. 14. The Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery is located in Owens’ Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township.

In addition to the exhibit, Owens’ Center for Fine and Performing Arts will serve as host to an open house glass blowing demonstration that features a portable hot glass studio by glass artists Robin and Julia Rogers of Nomadic Glass from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13 adjacent to the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery. The College will also host a lecture presentation by glass artist Donna Powers at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13.

“Owens Community College is proud to present an exhibit that recognizes and celebrates the profound impact that glass has had on Northwest Ohio,” stated Wynn Perry, Owens Coordinator of the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery. “The artists featured in the ‘Images’ Exhibit integrate image and text with glass in a manner that augments, distorts and expands the medium beyond its physical form.”

Six glass artists, who have garnered national artistic acclaim, will showcase their expressions and interpretations of glass as art as part of the “Images” exhibition, including Therman Statom, April Surgent, Tim Tate, Marc Petrovic, Michael Janis and Susan Taylor Glasgow, all of whom create works with photographic or painted images on glass. Approximately 25 featured artistic pieces will be on display in Owens’ “Images” exhibit.

Owens’ “Images” Exhibition is occurring in conjunction with Toledo serving as host to the Glass Art Society’s 42nd annual national conference, which is celebrating the Studio Glass Movement that began in the city 50 years ago. The College’s exhibit will be open to the public additional days next weekend from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. June 15-17 as part of the conference activities.

Admission to the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays during the summer months. Beginning Aug. 13, Owens’ Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery will be open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. For additional information about the exhibit, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2721 or (567) 661-2721.

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Owens Environmental Club Donates Hundreds of Denim Items to Local Child’s National Collection Drive Initiative, June 6

Posted on June 4th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Environmental Club is raising environmental awareness by bringing new life to worm-out jeans, jackets and purses previously destined for overcrowded landfills. As a result of the student group’s recent collection drive efforts, hundreds of denim items will soon find their way to “®COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.” and given “new life” as part of the environmental program’s UltraTouch National Cotton Fiber Insulation.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, the Environmental Club will be presenting the denim materials to Eisenhower Middle School sixth grader Erek Hansen to assist in his personal goal of collecting over 5,000 items for the “®COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.” program. Last year, the eleven-year-old collected 3,920 denim items. The presentation will take place outside the College’s Facility Services building, which is located on First Street on the Toledo-area Campus.

Ohio Association of Community Colleges Honors Owens Alumnus Walter Celley With State Award

Posted on May 31st, 2012

Owens Board of Trustees member Dr. Ronald McMaster (L to R), Owens Interim President John Satkowski, Walter Celley and Owens Board of Trustees Chair Dee Talmage pose for photo following OACC's annual Excellence Awards Gala.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College alumnus Walter Celley of Perrysburg has been chosen by the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) to receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his outstanding commitment to the local community and higher education.

Celley was recently honored for his exemplary efforts to Ohio’s community colleges during the OACC’s annual Excellence Awards Gala in Columbus. The Excellence Awards were established by the OACC with the overall goal of providing an opportunity for the state’s 23 community colleges to honor individuals and organizations for their exemplary contributions.

“As an alumnus of Owens Community College, Walter Celley personifies the level of excellence associated with the OACC’s Distinguished Alumnus Award,” said Dr. Ronald Abrams, President of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, which presents the annual award as part of the organization’s Excellence Awards. “Walter followed up stellar academic careers at Owens and Bowling Green State University to go on and graduate from the University of Toledo’s law school magna cum laude before pursuing a distinguished career in the law and exemplary service to the community.”

The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to a deserving alumnus of one of Ohio’s 23 community colleges who has, throughout the course of their life, demonstrated a passionate level of commitment to the local community and higher education. Since first being presented in 1995, numerous individuals who embody the core principles of this award have been recognized for their ongoing efforts to advance the mission of community colleges. These recipients are passionate about their work, and give generously of both their time and resources.

Celley earned his associate’s degree in agri-business management from Owens in 1976. Prior to obtaining his associate’s degree, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University. In 1987, Celley received his juris doctorate from the University of Toledo College of Law.

His professional achievements include a longstanding career of over 25 years as a practicing attorney representing several communities in Northwest Ohio. Following graduation from law school, Celley served as a Judicial Law Clerk to U.S. District Judge John W. Potter before entering private practice in 1989. He is a member of the Federal Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, the Toledo Bar Association and the Wood County Bar Association. Celley also holds appointments as Law Director for Waterville and Monclova townships in Lucas County and Perrysburg Township in Wood County.

Active in community and civic affairs, Celley has been a member with the Perrysburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Perrysburg Rotary Club for nearly 20 years. He has held numerous leadership positions in the Perrysburg Rotary Club to include chairing the organization’s STRIVE (Students Taking a Renewed Interest in the Value of Education) scholarship program. In 2009, Celley was instrumental in establishing the Perrysburg Rotary Service Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund through the Owens Community College Foundation. He is also a serves as an Owens Alumni Association Board Director.

His past community service involvement includes serving as a Trustee of the Perrysburg Schools Foundation, a Perrysburg Schools volunteer, a former Director of the Wood County Regional Airport Authority and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 101 in Waterville.

In 2010, Celley was named of the recipient of the Friend of Education Award from the Ohio Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association, an honor for which he was nominated by Penta Career Center.

The OACC was founded with the overall mission of advancing and implementing initiatives that work to ensure the success of the more than 300,000 community college students in Ohio. Rooted in the belief that every person should have access to a high quality college education, the OACC supports the mission of the state’s 23 community colleges to provide programming in technical education, lower-division baccalaureate education, developmental education and continuing education in the local communities.

Owens Community College and Connect Ohio Announce New Educational Location and Free Computer Classes in June

Posted on May 31st, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills with computers and the Internet are invited to participate in free continuing education computer classes as Owens Community College and the non-profit Connect Ohio organization announce training opportunities during the month of June.

Additionally, Owens and Connect Ohio are expanding the free offerings by unveiling a new educational site location in Bowling Green. Beginning Friday, June 8, individuals will be able to attend free computer classes at JobSolutions of Wood County (1928 E. Gypsy Lane Rd.) in Bowling Green. The College and Connect Ohio also offers classes at the Owens Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo, the Owens Learning Center at Arrowhead Park in Maumee and the Owens Findlay-area Campus in Findlay.

The upcoming six-hour computer classes will take place June 5 and 12 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and June 20 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center. Classes will also occur June 6 and 13 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Owens Learning Center at The Source. The final computer class session will be held at JobSolutions of Wood County June 8 and 15 from 1-4 p.m.

For more information, or to register for the free classes, individuals can contact the College’s Workforce and Community Services at (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Community College Assists School ChildrenWith ‘Backpack to the Future’ Summer Supply Drive

Posted on May 24th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – As another school year comes to an end, many students are once again placing their backpacks in storage or are discarding them entirely in anticipation of buying next fall’s latest fashion trend. Owens Community College’s Alumni Association has taken the initiative of once again organizing a gently-used backpack drive to provide new life for what many students consider their mobile lifeline to learning.

The College’s Alumni Association community service endeavor, titled “Backpack to the Future,” is currently accepting gently-used or new backpacks and new school supplies from area residents during the summer months. Items collected, as part of the “Backpack to the Future” program, will be given to low-income elementary school children throughout Northwest Ohio.

“There are many low-income families that can barely afford to pay their bills, and may not be able to provide their children with new supplies. The Owens Community College Alumni Association’s goal is to ensure that such occurrences do not happen and that all children begin their school year with new educational resources,” said Kaye Koevenig, Owens Community Service Chair of the Alumni Association.

In addition to the gently-used backpacks and new backpacks, individuals can donate crayons, markers, bottles of glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, pencils, pink erasers, school boxes, pocket folders, marbled covered composition books and Kleenex tissues. Area residents can bring their charitable donations to the Office of Alumni Relations on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township and the Education Center Atrium on the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay.

Since establishing the program in 2004, the Owens Alumni Association has given 2,356 backpacks and 42,661 school supplies to benefit disadvantaged children throughout Northwest Ohio.

For more information about the school supply drive, or to make a donation, contact the Owens Alumni Relations Office at (567) 661-7876, 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7876 or alumni@owens.edu.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Announces New Free ‘O-Start’ College Preparation Workshop, June 11-14

Posted on May 24th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Current juniors and recent graduates of Putnam County high schools are invited to explore career options and gain advice on making the first steps toward a college education to any college or university as Owens Community College presents a new free “O-Start” College Preparation Workshop, June 11-14.

The free four-day workshop is being presented in partnership with the Putnam County Educational Service Center and will take place from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday (June 11-14) in the Education Center Rooms 134 and 137 on the College’s Findlay-area Campus. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

Participants will receive a free USB flash drive and lanyard, a $40 gas card, a binder of college information and a Kindle Touch at the workshop’s conclusion. Lunch will be provided for free to attendees each day.

Owens’ “O-Start” classes will feature four different education, life and career specific days. Themes will include “Getting Started with College”, “Life/Work Balance”, “Aptitudes and Careers” and “Planning Ahead”. Workshop participants will engage in activities designed to promote enhanced learning and develop necessary study and life skills for college success and beyond. Individuals will also learn about stress management, community involvement, service learning, life planning, money management, and shadowing and internships, as well as receive information specific to the financial aid process, scholarships and academic placement testing.

Additionally, several guest speakers and current college students will provide educational presentations and panel discussions as part of the college preparation workshop. Individuals interested in the educational workshop must register prior to the first day of classes and enrollment is limited to the first 25 students.

For more information about the workshop, or to register, call (567) 429-3074 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3074, or (567) 429-3656 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3656.

Local Residents Achieve Goals and Dreams During GED Graduation Ceremony at Owens

Posted on May 23rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Over 40 area residents recently were honored for achieving academic excellence as Owens Community College served as host to its third annual GED Graduation Ceremony.

Graduates received their Ohio High School Equivalence Diploma, also known as the General Educational Development (GED) Diploma, as part of the celebration. Shelly Taylor and Liyaquat Qurbanali were selected as the student class representatives and addressed the graduates as keynote speakers during the event. All graduates received special diploma covers and honor students were recognized with medallions.

For the 31-year-old Taylor, obtaining a GED Diploma represents the opening of doors to a new life and career possibilities.

“Returning to school and pursuing my GED Diploma was long over do,” explained Taylor, who previously worked for several years in the restaurant industry while raising her 11-year-old son Lawrence. “My GED Diploma means the world to me. I wanted to change my life and my education is going to make that possible. All of the hard work has paid off.”

The educational journey is just beginning for Taylor as she is pursuing her associate’s degree in registered nursing at Owens. After completing her education at Owens, she intends on transferring to the University of Toledo to continue her studies in nursing. Her eventual goal is to work in forensic nursing.

For those individuals contemplating a return to school Taylor offered some words of advice. “It’s never too late to go back to school,” she stated.

Students receiving their GED Diploma as part of the graduation celebration were Mark Baker of Toledo, Brandy Baranowski of Toledo, Hazel Briggs of Toledo, Jessica Carpenter of Toledo, Marcy Coyne of Toledo, Gregory Cross of Toledo, Brian Dominique of Toledo, Gordon Duby of Toledo, Jessica Graves of Fostoria, Marina Hernandez of Toledo, Jamie Hoverman of McComb, Keith Huffman of Toledo, Shawn Johnson of Toledo, Jordan Jones of Toledo, Lisa Jones of Findlay, Tifanee Lampkin of Toledo, Renauta Lohmeyer of Toledo, Megan McCarter of Toledo, Darryl Moon of Findlay, Arden Moyer III of Toledo, Brent Myers of Findlay, Lauren Myers of Findlay, Ashley Nusbaum of Toledo, Pamela Pasco of Toledo, Ronald Perry Jr. of Toledo, Marvin Pettaway of Toledo, Liyaquat Qurbanali of Toledo, Marylou Robertson of Findlay, Janisha Sisson of Toledo, Kevin St. John of Toledo, Lori Stein of Arcadia, Angel Stempowski of Toledo, Dustin Tabor of Toledo, Shelly Taylor of Toledo, Brenda Thomas of Arcadia, Josephine Tredway of Toledo, Kristina Watson of Oregon, Gabrielle Wilson of Toledo, Shealene Wright of Findlay, Brett Albright of Toledo, Sharmaine Haynes of Toledo and Martina Young of Toledo.

The GED examination was created with the goal of providing individuals who do not finish high school with an opportunity to earn an Ohio High School Equivalence Diploma and advance their academic and career aspirations. In order to earn an Ohio GED Diploma, students must pass all five subject areas that include language arts-writing, language arts-reading, science, social studies and mathematics on their official examination. The ABLE program is offered at no cost to students and provides individualized study plans so that each student can progress at a pace comfortable for them.

Owens’ ABLE, which is funded by the state of Ohio through the Ohio Board of Regents and the U.S. Department of Education, is committed to meeting the needs of the surrounding communities by providing an array of enriched learning opportunities and academic resources that include reading, writing, mathematics and computer skills. Specific programs available include preparing for post-secondary training and education, obtaining a GED Diploma, improving employability skills and learning English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), among other academic resources.

Owens Findlay-area Campus to Showcase Academic Programs and Services During Open House Event, June 6

Posted on May 22nd, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Area residents are invited to learn about and explore the many educational programs, services and resources available at Owens Community College’s Findlay-area Campus as the academic institution serves as host to an Open House event on Wednesday, June 6.

The event is open to the public and will take place from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on the College’s Findlay-area Campus. Owens is located on 3200 Bright Road in Findlay.

“Owens Community College is proud to offer a day where community members can learn about our many academic programs and services and get to know our campus,” said Stefanie Orians, Owens Admissions Representative. “The open house is designed for prospective students and families to experience Owens Community College and the many educational opportunities that our academic institution has to offer.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives and pick up information about such educational services as new student orientation, placement testing, admissions and advising. Additionally, Owens’ Dean of Enrollment Services Dr. Betsy Johnson will be providing presentations on financial aid at 3:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. in the Conference Center.

Individuals will also have the chance to participate in several hands-on demonstration sessions taking place in the College’s state-of-the-art experiential learning classrooms. Highlighted topics will include blood pressure screenings, organism discovery through microscopes, anatomy and physiology, ALICE programming, networking, solar array and wind turbine technology, virtual welding, tensile testing, CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology, robotics and exercise science, among many other educational topics.

In addition, Owens Open House participants can visit with staff from the Offices of Career Services, Disability Services, Student Activities, Veterans Services, International Programs and Services, and Oserve, as well as the Child Care Center throughout the open house event.

All attendees are encouraged to visit the check-in and information location in the Education Center Atrium upon arrival to the Findlay-area Campus.

For more information, or to register for the open house, call (567) 429-3656 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3656. Or, check out the Owens website at www.owens.edu/openhouse/.

Owens Women’s Soccer Announces Express Summer Youth Camps, June 25-29

Posted on May 22nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College will offer area soccer players the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of the sport as women’s soccer hosts three separate Express Soccer Youth Camps, June 25-29.

The Express women’s soccer program will offer two separate camp sessions starting on Monday, June 25. The morning session is a Premier Camp for more experienced players and will take place from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., while the afternoon session is a Recreational Camp for beginning and less experienced players and will occur from 2-5 p.m. Both camps will conclude on Friday, June 29.

Youth ages 6-13 will be divided by age groups and abilities for each camp and receive individual instruction on various soccer technical and tactical skills. Camp instructors will include the Owens Express women’s soccer coaching staff and student-athletes as well as area high school and college coaches. Each individual will receive camp T-shirt and a certificate of participation.

Additionally, Owens women’s soccer will host a Goalkeeping Clinic for youth ages 8-18 Wednesday-Thursday, June 27-28. The clinic will take place from 5-7 p.m. and focus on the fundamentals and advanced skills of goalkeeping.

Parents and coaches are invited to attend the camps to listen and observe at no additional charge. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate soccer clothing and footwear for each camp. Additionally, attendees should bring their own soccer ball and a beverage.

All three camps will take place in the College’s soccer complex on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Owens women’s soccer completed its first season as an intercollegiate program in 2011. Led by Head Coach Mary Whisler, the Express finished with a 12-8 overall record and in fourth place (5-5 record) in the NJCAA Region XII women’s soccer regular season standings. Owens lost to Schoolcraft College in the semifinals of the NJCAA Region XII Championships.

The cost for the Premier Camp or Recreational Camp is $85 per player, while the fee for the Goalkeeping Clinic is $25. For more information, call (567) 661-7935 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7935, or e-mail mary_whisler@owens.edu. Individuals can also visit the College’s website at www.owensexpress.com/camps.

Owens Community College Closed Memorial Day, May 28

Posted on May 22nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, as well as the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee and the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo, will be closed on Monday, May 28 for the Memorial Day holiday. There will be no classes and the College offices will be closed for business.

Classes will resume and administrative offices will open again on Tuesday, May 29.

Owens Express Golf Student-Athlete Competes in NJCAA National Championship Tournament, May 22-25

Posted on May 17th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College student-athlete Luke Berger of Temperance, Mich. will have the opportunity to compete against some of the country’s best intercollegiate golfers for an individual national championship title as the Express student-athlete participates in the NJCAA Division II National Championships, May 22-25.

The Bedford High School graduate advanced to the national championship tournament after shooting a total score of 224 (76-73-75) and finishing in 10th place at the NJCAA Region XII Men’s Golf Championships. The Owens six-member team finished fourth at the regional championships, which washeld at Bedford Valley Golf Club in Battle Creek, Mich. after rounds of 298-303-302 (903).

Berger, pre-business administration major, will take a 79.5 season scoring average into the NJCAA Division II National Championship tournament, which will be held at The Golf Club at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind. The four-day 72-hole NJCAA tournament will consist of four rounds beginning at 7 a.m. each day. Tee times for the no-cut event will be set prior to the tournament in accordance with NJCAA rules. Over 120 individuals will compete for the individual national title.

“I am extremely proud of Luke Berger and his efforts on the golf course,” said Gil Guerrero, Owens Head Coach of the golf program. “Luke has worked very hard and has served as a team leader from day one of the season. He has earned the right to compete for a national championship title and will represent Owens Community College and the golf program well at the NJCAA tournament.”

His postseason honors include Ohio Community College Athletic Conference First Team selection. He also was named to the NJCAA All-Region XII Team.

Berger becomes the third Express golf student-athlete to qualify for the national tournament (Jimmy Bell in 2009 and Joey Bussdieker in 2007). As a team, Owens qualified for nationals in 2006 and 2008.

Owens Community College to Assist Local Residents with Children’s Mom2Mom Outreach Sale, June 2

Posted on May 16th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents searching for and/or are interested in selling children’s-specific items are invited to visit Owens Community College as the Raising Awareness Club presents its first-ever Mom2Mom Sale on Saturday, June 2.

The Mom2Mom Sale will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The daylong event is open to the public.

“Owens Community College is proud to offer an event that benefits individuals in our communities who may have a limited budget,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Activities Assistant and Raising Awareness Club Advisor. “I encourage individuals to lend a helping hand by making available for purchase children’s items that may be going unused and could be put to good use by parents with younger children.”

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to select from a variety of children’s-specific items being sold by community venders in a “garage sale” format. Items available for purchase will include gently-used clothing, toys, strollers and high chairs, among other merchandise.

Proceeds will benefit a one-year-old boy from Minnesota who is in need of a liver transplant.

Owens’ Raising Awareness Club was founded with the overall purpose of raising awareness about an array of issues and causes. Comprised of Owens students, employees and alumni, the group is committed to advocating for the acceptance of cultural differences, global unity, disability awareness and various needs that impact the surrounding communities.

The cost to reserve a merchandise table is $10 and interested vendors must register by May 29. Admission to the Mom2Mom Sale is $1. For more information about the event, or register, call (567) 661-2994 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2994.

Owens Community College Graduates Over 800 Students During Spring Commencement Ceremonies

Posted on May 16th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Over 800 Owens Community College students recently realized their educational goals and dreams as they were awarded degrees in various academic disciplines during the academic institution’s 46th annual Spring Commencement ceremony.

For 57-year-old Geraldine Davis of Toledo, an English major, Spring Commencement represents a new beginning and an aspiring career as an author.

“My college education has been a huge lift to my confidence and has made me a better writer,” stated Davis, whose first novel titled “Suspended” is set to debut in July.

Davis, an Honors Scholar and the primary caretaker as a grandmother of six children, added, “Graduating from Owens means achievement and accomplishment. I never thought that graduating from college was a possibility several years ago. Now at the age of 57, I can say that anything is possible.”

According to mathematics major Andrew Hartke of Oregon, obtaining his associate’s degree is the first step toward the career goal of becoming an educator in higher education.

“I am very excited about the first step in my educational journey,” stated the 30-year-old Hartke, who has also helped his fellow students in their educational pursuits as a peer mentor, tutor and supplemental instruction leader. “Walking across the stage and receiving my college degree is very special and something that was far from my mind when I was a retail manager. Now, I have my associate’s degree and look forward to continuing my education at Bowling Green State University.”

Owens diagnostic medical sonography graduate Cortney Missler, age 21, is ready to embark on a new career as a sonographer, a field and career she first envisioned entering at a very young age.

“My aunt is a sonographer and graduated from the same Owens program,” explained the Toledo resident, who also achieved the program’s Outstanding Sonography Student Award. “I always wanted to be a sonographer and now I have reached my goal. Graduation is a huge accomplishment.”

Andrea Price, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercy, Northern Region, served as the keynote speaker for the College’s Spring Commencement and shared some words of advice and encouragement for the graduating class with the overall theme of becoming societal contributors.

“Success is not only measured by the difference that you make, but also by the determination that it takes,” said Price. “You have the same number of hours in every day as Edison, Lincoln, Galileo, Mother Theresa, Thoreau, King, da Vinci, Mandela and Einstein. The world needed them. The world needs you. Make every minute count.”

Additionally, Loral Browning, known as Mike to his friends and family, was selected as the Owens class representative and addressed the graduates during the Spring Commencement ceremony.

The 59-year-old Toledo resident earned his associate’s degree in marketing and sales technology with a financial services sales option. Prior to enrolling at Owens, Browning was employed in the food industry as a distributor for 38 years. He never missed a paycheck until 2010, when he lost his job.

Browning shared with his fellow graduates how Owens has given him many opportunities, new friends and a new start in life.

“Your choices have been superior up to this point. That is why you are here,” explained Browning. “Lean on the friends you have made, your family, your advisors and faculty. They will help you make the right choices for the future. Many of you will be getting new jobs. Many of you will go on in school. I wish you well with whatever path you take.”

In addition to the honor of being chosen to address the graduating class, Browning, a 1971 Start High School graduate, achieved a 3.8 grade point average and is a member of the Kappa Beta Delta and Chi Alpha Epsilon national honor societies. He also served as a student representative of Owens on an international study tour to China in May 2011.

He credits his success to the support and encouragement of the faculty and staff at Owens, including Holly Burnside, Jeffrey Hardesty and Ramadevi Kannan. The support of his family was also a critical part of his educational success, including his wife, Donna, who pushed him to make sure his homework was finished, and his sons, Michael, Brian, Chad and Chris.

When Browning, who also is a grandfather, began his studies at Owens, he never thought his educational path would end with an associate’s degree. He soon found that Owens and a college education was much more than he ever envisioned and that he was excited about the possibility of learning something new every day.

As a result, Browning intends on continuing his studies after graduation and transferring to a four-year institution to continue working toward his bachelor’s degree in business. Ultimately, his goal is to work within the areas of sales or management.

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Owens Community College Board of Trustees Awards 2012 Academic Excellence Scholarships

Posted on May 15th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area high school seniors recently were honored by Owens Community College’s Board of Trustees for their outstanding achievements, receiving thousands of dollars in new scholarships through the Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarship Program.

“Owens Community College is honored to recognize the Trustees’ Academic Excellence scholarship recipients for their dedication to academic excellence and outstanding service to their respective schools and communities,” said Dee Talmage, Owens Chair of the Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to commend them on their accomplishments and welcome them to Owens Community College.”

The Academic Excellence Scholarship Program was created in 1998 by Owens’ Board of Trustees to recognize the outstanding achievements of graduating high school seniors. Each recipient will receive a $2,000 two-year scholarship.

The scholarship is available for four consecutive semesters with applicants being enrolled full-time and pursuing an associate’s degree at the College, as well as maintaining a 3.0 grade point average each semester. Since its creation more than a decade ago, the Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarship Program has provided over $1.4 million in scholarships to 741 students.

Students receiving a Trustees’ Academic Excellence Scholarship and their intended course of study at Owens include:

Kaetie Reese of Whitehouse, an Anthony Wayne High School graduate (criminal justice technology)
Katelyn Motsinger of Bowling Green, a Bowling Green High School graduate (international business)
Rachel Todak of Perrysburg, a Central Catholic High School graduate (occupational therapy assistant)
Kelly Schaefer of Oregon, a Clay High School graduate (registered nursing)
Erin Sehlhorst of Tiffin, a Columbian High School graduate (physical therapist assistant)
Megan Lare of Convoy, a Crestview High School graduate (chemistry)
Jacob Welch of Luckey, an Eastwood High School graduate (adolescence education)
Michelle Sander of Bloomdale, an Elmwood High School graduate (criminal justice technology)
Stacey Meador of Toledo, an Emmanuel Christian High School graduate (radiologic technology)
Kristine Combs of Findlay, a Findlay High School graduate (registered nursing)
Brennan Baeder of Fostoria, a Fostoria High School graduate (business management)
Joseph Dietrich of Ney, a Four County Career Center graduate (General Motors ASEP)
Makenzie Watkins of Fostoria, a Hopewell-Loudon High School graduate (diagnostic medical sonography)
Logan Feeney of Findlay, a Liberty-Benton High School graduate (fire science)
Terance Gaston of Toledo, a Life Skills Center of Toledo graduate (computer science)
Nathan Seeman of Maumee, a Maumee High School graduate (biomedical electronics)
Christopher Gysan of Castalia, a Margaretta High School graduate (landscape and turfgrass management)
Tiler Williams of Pioneer, a North Central High School graduate (applied engineering technology)
Lisa Urbanski of Toledo, a Notre Dame Academy graduate (radiologic technology)
Weston Moore of Sylvania, a Northview High School graduate (radiologic technology)
Jessica Hughes of Northwood, a Northwood High School graduate (registered nursing)
Emily Bitter of Woodville, a Penta Career Center graduate (exercise science)
Austan Westenbarger of McComb, a McComb High School graduate (marketing and sales)
Trevor Brown of Toledo, a Perrysburg High School graduate (commercial art technology)
Erik Binder of Perrysburg, a Rossford High School graduate (accounting)
Sandy Pratt of Toledo, a Southview High School High School graduate (photography)
Savannah Nowakowski of Toledo, a Springfield High School graduate (registered nursing)
Paris Wheeler of Swanton, a Swanton High School graduate (occupational therapy assistant)
Shelby Rowe of Alger, an Upper Scioto Valley High School graduate (diagnostic medical sonography)
Joseph Simon of Van Buren, a Van Buren High School graduate (registered nursing)
Abby Grubbs of Wharton, a Vanlue High School graduate (radiologic technology)
Taylor Avers of Gibsonburg, a Woodmore High School graduate (registered nursing)
Sarina Shrader of Toledo, a Woodward High School graduate (diagnostic medical sonography)

Owens Community College to Host GED Graduation Ceremony, May 20

Posted on May 14th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Over 50 area residents will be honored for achieving academic excellence as Owens Community College will serve as host to its third annual GED Graduation Ceremony on Sunday, May 20.

Presented by the College’s Office of Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE), the special ceremonies will occur at 1 p.m. in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The GED Graduation Ceremony is open to the public.

Graduates will be receiving their Ohio High School Equivalence Diploma, also known as the General Educational Development (GED) Diploma, as part of the graduation ceremony. Shelly Taylor and Liyaquat Qurbanali have been selected as the student class representatives and will address the graduates as keynote speakers during the event. All graduates receive special diploma covers and honor students will be recognized with medallions.

“Owens Community College is honored to celebrate the many successes of our graduates, many of whom have defied the odds and overcome obstacles in pursuit of their GED Diploma,” said Joyce Winters, Owens Director of ABLE and Assistant Director of Student Success. “Each student has worked extremely hard to achieve their GED Diploma, which will certainly open new doors to career and educational possibilities. Several of these graduates have already registered for classes at Owens and other educational institutions. The GED is the first step toward continuing a person’s education, and we’re excited to see students taking that second step.”

The College offers ABLE classes at multiple locations in Northwest Ohio, including the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township, the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay, the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee, the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo, Washington Local Schools in Toledo, The Providence Center in Toledo, The Friendly Center in Toledo, Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo in Toledo, the Lucas County Metropolitan Housing Authority in Toledo, Pilgrim Church in Toledo, Wood County JOBsolutions in Bowling Green, Hancock County JOBsolutions in Findlay, Findlay-Hancock County Public Library in Findlay and at several Toledo-Lucas County Public Library locations.

Individuals who are interested in Owens’ ABLE classes can call (567) 661-2708 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2708.

High Schools Showcase Talents During Statewide Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Contest at Owens

Posted on May 10th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Twenty high school students from across Ohio recently put their knowledge of automobiles to the test as they competed in the 63rd annual Ford/AAA Auto Skills State Competition at Owens Community College.

Sponsored by the Ford Motor Co. and AAA, the state contest involved 10 high school teams, consisting of two students, completing various testing to determine their expertise of automobiles. As part of the practical skills competition, teams were required to locate, identify and repair malfunctions on new 2012 Ford Fusion vehicles, which were donated by the Hertz Corp. Once the vehicle was properly diagnosed and repaired, the each team drove across the finish line, where the vehicle was inspected by judges, comprised of automotive industry professionals.

The top teams were awarded scholarships and prizes with the championship team also advancing to the National Finals at the Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Mich., June 10-12.

The state championship went to Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren (Liki Turner of Warren and Robert Strohmeyer of Brookfield), while Apollo Career Center in Lima (Sebastian Moneer of Spencerville and Zach Cozadd of Bluffton) finished in second place.

Other high schools and students participating in the state competition and their order of finish were Sentinel Career and Technology Center in Tiffin (Ricardo Galvan of Fostoria and Brandon Seasly of Republic), EHOVE Career Center in Milan (Roy Hinckley of Wakeman and Nathan Summers of Wakeman), Tolles Career and Technical Center in Plain City (Samuel Ford of Columbus and Justin Reisinger of West Jefferson), Fairfield Career Center in Carroll (Tyler Milisits of Sugar Grove and Jake Kidd of Carroll), Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Clayton (Heath Harstine of West Milton and Joseph Anderson of Englewood), Whitmer Career and Technology Center in Toledo (Josiah Meiring of Toledo and Michael Stockdale of Toledo), Valley Forge High School in Parma Heights (Vitaliy Reshetnyak of Parma Heights and Kamil Falkowski of Parma Heights) and Coshocton County Career Center in Coshocton (Jerry Berry of Coshocton and Ben Modesitt of Frazeysburg).

Over 12,000 students from across the United States annually compete for the chance to represent their school and state in the National Finals. The Ford/AAA Auto Skills State Competitions will offer nearly $12 million in scholarships this year to students at both the state and national levels.

This marks the third time (2003 and 2004) that Owens has served as host site for the state competition.

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Owens Dental Hygiene Faculty and Students to Help Chimbote Residents During Peru Study and Service Abroad Program, May 15-25

Posted on May 10th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – A group of Owens Community College Dental Hygiene Program faculty and recent graduates will have the opportunity to impact the lives of residents in Chimbote, Peru through volunteer efforts as they participate in the academic institution’s first Peru Study and Service Abroad Program, May 15-25.

Owens recent graduates of the Dental Hygiene Program participating in the international service learning experience are Rachael Kline of New London, Jaclyn Niese of Leipsic and Jordan Hoppe of Green Springs. Owens Dental Hygiene Program faculty accompanying the recent graduates to Peru are Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene Susan Wannemacher of Toledo and Adjunct Instructor of Dental Hygiene Vielka Cover of Monclova.

“I’ve always wanted to go on a service learning trip,” said Owens dental hygiene graduate Rachael Kline. “I really enjoy helping people and this is an opportunity to help people who are truly in need.”

For Owens recent graduate in dental hygiene Jaclyn Niese, the trip to Chimbote provides a unique chance to open her horizons to a different lifestyle.

“I have never been to South America,” explained Niese. “I am really looking forward to the chance to share my world and experiences with the Chimbote people and at the same time learn from them.”

Coordinated by the College’s Office of International Programs and Services through a partnership with Community College for International Development and the organization’s Troika Study Abroad Programs, the Owens group will arrive in Chimbote on Tuesday, May 15. During their 11 days in the impoverished city of Chimbote, Owens participants will have the opportunity to learn about social, economic and other aspects of life in the city and its surrounding neighborhoods as well as engage in a variety of cultural and custom-specific activities with the local residents.

Owens recent graduates and faculty members will also volunteer their time at several local shelters, clinics and agencies during their visit to Peru. Volunteer activities will include working in soup kitchens and daycare centers as well as providing dental education outreach for Chimbote residents.

In addition, Owens representatives will have the opportunity to explore the culture and history specific to different regions of Peru during visits to Lima and Trujillo.

Owens representatives will share their service and educational learning experience in Chimbote with faculty and students from partnering American community colleges, including Davidson County Community College in Lexington, N.C. and Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tenn.

Group members are expected to return to Northwest Ohio and Owens Community College on Friday, May 25.

In addition to the study and service learning abroad initiative, Owens’ Office of International Programs and Services provides educational opportunities to international students. Over 90 students from 26 countries are pursuing a higher education at Owens. Countries represented in Owens’ international student enrollment are Kenya, Egypt, China, India, Venezuela, Brazil, Columbia, Serbia and Saudi Arabia, among others.

Owens, ProMedica and Toledo Dental Hygienists’ Association Announce Free Oral Cancer Screening Event, May 22

Posted on May 9th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to take a proactive approach to healthy living and the fight against oral cancer as Owens Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program, the Toledo Dental Hygienists’ Association and ProMedica Cancer Institute offer a free Oral Cancer Screening community outreach event on Tuesday, May 22.

The Oral Cancer Screening event will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. at the College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic. The clinic is located in Health Technologies Hall on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township. The event is free and open to individuals of all ages.

The Oral Cancer Screening community outreach event will be administered by area dentists and dental hygienists and includes both visual and tactile exams for visible indicators of oral cancer. The screening will include an examination of each individual’s appearance, palpation, depth and surface dimension, extraoral findings, signs and symptoms (sore throat, earache and painful swallowing in throat) and history of smoking, alcohol and previous lesions.

Additionally, a referral form, describing the findings, will be given to attendees should a questionable condition, or tissues which are felt to be abnormal, are discovered. Participants will be encouraged to take the referral form to their own dentist or doctor where further evaluation and closer examination can be conducted. The examination will last approximately 30 minutes.

The College’s Dental Hygiene Program provides more than 40 students with a fully accredited, scientifically current and competency-based curriculum annually. Students receive classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in the Dental Hygiene Clinic, while preparing to sit for the national, state or regional exam in dental hygiene. Owens’ program also offers dental services to area residents through its Dental Hygiene Clinic.

Individuals interested in receiving a free oral cancer screening are encouraged to contact the ProMedica Cancer Institute at (877) 291-1441. Appointment reservations must be made prior to the event.

Owens Community College Express Golf Competes in NJCAA Regional Championships, May 14-15

Posted on May 9th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Express golf begins its postseason run toward a national title as the program competes in the NJCAA Region XII Men’s Golf Championships next week. The tournament will be held at Bedford Valley Golf Club in Battle Creek, Mich., Monday-Tuesday, May 14-15.

The Express golf team captured and/or finished tied for four match and invitational titles during the season, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Championship Invitational. The program also finished second in the NJCAA Region XII Sub-Regional championship after a round of 316 at Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg.

Now in its seventh year as an intercollegiate athletic program, Owens will compete against 13 intercollegiate golf programs and over 60 individuals in the two-day 36-hole NJCAA Region XII tournament. The program must finish as one of the top two teams to advance to the NJCAA Division II National Championship, May 22-25. Individuals can also advance to the national championship tournament. Owens made two trips (2005 and 2008) to the NJCAA Division II National Championship.

Owens Express golf student-athletes include Kyle Simmons of Millbury, 79 scoring average (Genoa H.S.), Brian Brumenshenkel of Maumee, 86.3 scoring average (Anthony Wayne H.S.), Greg Hermes of Maumee, 80 scoring average (Maumee H.S.),Luke Berger of Temperance, Mich., 79.5 scoring average (Bedford H.S.), Tyler Crossley of London, 83.8 scoring average (Jonathan Alder H.S.), Walter Dorosh of Pinckney, Mich., 80.7 scoring average (Pinckney H.S.), Darren Gessner of Okolona, 79.3 scoring average (Napoleon H.S.), Conor Totzke of Liberty Center, 80.5 scoring average (Liberty Center H.S.) and Cleo Trumbull of Waterville, 80.1 scoring average (Anthony Wayne H.S.).

Owens Community College to Host Statewide Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition, May 10

Posted on May 8th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Twenty high school students from across Ohio will put their knowledge of automobiles to the test as they compete in the 63rd annual Ford/AAA Auto Skills State Competition at Owens Community College on Thursday, May 10.

The contest will occur from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the College’s Center for Emergency Preparedness on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to collaborate with the Ford Motor Co. and AAA and support an event that enables high school students to showcase their knowledge and skills specific to the automotive industry,” said Nick Shultz, Owens Instructor of Transportation Technologies and Technical Competition Manager for the state competition. “Ohio’s Ford/AAA Auto Skills State Competition is one of the largest in the country. The participants are extremely talented, which will certainly make for a very exciting day of competition.”

Sponsored by the Ford Motor Co. and AAA, the state contest will involve 10 high school teams, consisting of two students, completing various testing to determine their expertise of automobiles. As part of the practical skills competition, teams will be required to locate, identify and repair malfunctions on new 2012 Ford Fusion vehicles, which are donated by the Hertz Corp. Once the vehicle is properly diagnosed and repaired, the teams must drive across the finish line, where the vehicle will be inspected by judges, comprised of automotive industry professionals.

The top teams will be awarded scholarships and prizes with the championship team also advancing to the National Finals at the Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Mich., June 10-12. Over 12,000 students from across the United States annually compete for the chance to represent their school and state in the National Finals. The Ford/AAA Auto Skills State Competitions will offer nearly $12 million in scholarships this year to students at both the state and national levels.

High schools and students participating in the state competition are Apollo Career Center in Lima (Sebastian Moneer of Spencerville and Zach Cozadd of Bluffton), Coshocton County Career Center in Coshocton (Tyler Hostetler of Newcomerstown and Ben Modesitt of Frazeysburg), EHOVE Career Center in Milan (Roy Hinckley of Wakeman and Nathan Summers of Wakeman), Fairfield Career Center in Carroll (Tyler Milisits of Sugar Grove and Jake Kidd of Carroll), Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Clayton (Zachary Abner of Farmersville and Joseph Anderson of Englewood), Sentinel Career and Technology Center in Tiffin (Ricardo Galvan of Fostoria and Brandon Seasly of Republic), Tolles Career and Technical Center in Plain City (Samuel Ford of Columbus and Justin Reisinger of West Jefferson), Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren (Liki Turner of Warren and Robert Strohmeyer of Brookfield), Valley Forge High School in Parma Heights (Vitaliy Reshetnyak of Parma Heights and Kamil Falkowski of Parma Heights) and Whitmer Career and Technology Center in Toledo (Josiah Meiring of Toledo and Michael Stockdale of Toledo).

This marks the third time (2003 and 2004) that Owens has served as host site for the state competition.

Owens Express Women’s Softball Competes in NJCAA District G Regional Tournament, May 9-11

Posted on May 7th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Owens Community College women’s softball team will look to advance to its second consecutive national championship tournament as the Express compete in the NJCAA Region XII (District G) Women’s Softball Championship later this week. The tournament will be held in Battle Creek, Mich., Wednesday-Friday, May 9-11.

Coached by Duane Lanham, the Express will take a 39-5 overall record into the double elimination tournament where they will play the winner of the Muskegon Community College/Jackson Community College game at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9. If they would advance, the Express will play at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 10. The championship game will occur at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 11.

Teams participating in the tournament include Owens, Kalamazoo Valley Community College (35-7), Jackson Community College (18-30), Muskegon Community College (36-9), Grand Rapids Community College (29-22) and Ancilla College (35-16).

Earlier this year, Lanham’s team won its 11th regular season Ohio Community College Athletic Conference title (8-0 record) in the program’s history. The conference championship is the seventh in the last eight years. Owens is currently ranked No. 12 in the most recent NJCAA Division II Women’s Softball poll.

In 2011, the women’s softball team advanced to its second NJCAA Division II National Championship tournament where they finished second among 16 participating intercollegiate teams. Owens lost to Louisiana State University-Eunice 10-0 in the NJCAA Division II National Championship game. The Express is the first women’s intercollegiate athletic program in school history to advance to the national championship game.

The NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship will be held May 17-19 in Bloomington, Miss.

Owens Community College Accepting Applications for Fall Police Academy Program

Posted on May 7th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Students considering a career in law enforcement can pursue such an opportunity at Owens Community College as the academic institution is now accepting applications for the upcoming fall Basic Peace Officer Academy Training Program on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

During the seven-month program, Owens police academy students will take courses in patrol operations, firearms, defensive tactics, criminal investigation, constitutional law and physical conditioning using modern, high-tech police equipment. Participants will receive expert instruction from local police officers, sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers, as well as state and federal agents. In addition, coursework earned by police academy graduates will apply toward an associate degree at Owens in law enforcement.

Local law enforcement agencies where Owens graduates have been employed include the Lucas County Sheriff’s Department, Maumee Police Department, Northwood Police Department, Perrysburg City Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Sylvania City Police Department, Sylvania Township Police Department, Toledo Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Findlay Police Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Department and Fostoria Police Department.

Upon completion of the program, each student will receive a certificate from Owens. Curriculum for the College’s police academy is approved by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission.

All requirements of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission must be met for certification. Application packets must be requested by May 17. Applications for fall academy classes should be completed and returned to the College during the week of June 18-21. Fall police academy program classes begin in August.

For more information, or to obtain an application packet, call (567) 661-7439 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7439.

Owens Students to Pursue Global Education During China Study Tour Program, May 10-24

Posted on May 4th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – A group of Owens Community College students will have the unique opportunity to spend two weeks exploring life as well as learning about the cultures and customs of another country as they participate in the academic institution’s China Study Tour Program.

According to Owens Director of International Programs and Services Deborah Gavlik, the goal of the China Study Tour Program is to allow our students to immerse themselves in another country’s way of life.

“We are living in a global economy and community,” said Gavlik. “It is important that students have opportunities to become engaged from a global perspective, learning and exchanging experiences with people from other counties. Owens Community College is pleased to offer such a unique educational opportunity for our students.”

Owens students participating in the international experience are Darlene Vanderoff of Findlay, Haley Stuart of Perrysburg, Zackery Doane of Bowling Green, Nicholas Gordon of Payne, Amanda Sheeks of Bowling Green, Matthew Kovacs of Perrysburg and Heather Baum of Weston. Also accompanying the students to China is Owens International Programs and Services Director Deborah Gavilik of Perrysburg.

Coordinated by the College’s Office of International Programs and Services, Owens students will arrive in Ningbo, China on Thursday, May 10. During their first week in China, students will attend language, history and culture classes and engage in several cultural activities at Ningbo Polytechnic, which is a vocational college located in Ningbo. Owens students will also have the opportunity to interact with Chinese students at the college and share their own American cultural experiences with the Ningbo Polytechnic students.

The second week of the China Study Tour Program will entail travels to Beijing, Shaghai, Hangzhou and Wuzhen. The group will visit such sites as the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Additionally, this marks Kovacs second trip to China as part of the study tour program. He will spend both weeks at Ningbo Polytechnic assisting with English classes as part of an internship.

To prepare for the experience, the China Study Tour Program students recently participated in a study abroad preparation course to familiarize themselves with China’s origins as well as gain insight into the culture and history.

Group members are expected to return to Northwest Ohio and Owens Community College on Thursday, May 24.

This marks the second time that a group of students has visited China as part of the College’s international partnership with Ningbo Polytechnic. In May 2011, nine Owens students had the opportunity to travel to China to participate in the College’s first China Study Tour Program.

In addition to the study abroad initiative, Owens’ Office of International Programs and Services provides educational opportunities to international students. Over 90 students from 26 countries are pursuing a higher education at Owens. Countries represented in Owens’ international student enrollment are Kenya, Egypt, China, India, Venezuela, Brazil, Columbia, Serbia and Saudi Arabia, among others

Owens Community College Recognizes Students for Creative Excellence in Artistic Expression

Posted on May 1st, 2012

Toledo resident Katrina Roberts' mixed media artwork (left) titled "Texture 2" and the vector design "Times New Roman Font Poster" by Mark Boggs of Portage were among the many artistic pieces on display at Owens' annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Nine Owens Community College students were recently honored for their creative excellence in art as the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery held its annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.

“Owens’ Center for Fine and Performing Arts is proud to have featured some of the finest works of art produced by our students,” said Wynn Perry, Owens Part-time Coordinator of the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery.“The creative works submitted by Owens students were truly outstanding and epitomized the meaning of artistic expression. Events such as the Juried Student Art Exhibition provide great opportunities for students to apply the knowledge obtained within the classroom into a real world setting.”

A jury composed of area artists and professionals selected the winning entries based on creative excellence. The Juried Student Art Exhibition was open to all students enrolled within fine and performing arts courses.

The show featured over 80 pieces of artwork in the categories of fine art, photography and commercial art. Fifty-five students enrolled within fine and performing arts courses at Owens had artwork accepted for the show.

In the category of fine art, Ellen Koeberlein of Whitehouse was awarded first place for her charcoal drawing titled “Something Taken”. Taylor Palicki of Maumee received second place for her drypoint drawing titled “Fallen” and Chris Hatfield of Toledo took third place for his charcoal drawing titled “Exposing, Self Portrait”.

Clayton Parento of Toledo was awarded first place in the category of photography for his chromo black and white print titled “Checkmate!”, while Richard Ball of Toledo took second place for his digital print “Scott Rim Light”. Andrew Smith of Waterville garnered third place for his silver gelatin artwork titled “Self Portrait 1”.

In the category of commercial art, Nathan Daulbaugh of Toledo was awarded first place for his page layout titled “Creative Noises Live Concert Series Poster”. Michael Matuszewski of Toledo took second place for his vector design “Ferre Fraktur Font Poster” and Thomas Sumwalt of Perrysburg received third place honors for his vector design “Image Trace”.

Academic Programs and Services Showcased During Open House Event at Owens

Posted on April 30th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Over 600 area residents were recently treated to a taste of college life courtesy of Owens Community College as the academic institution served as host to an open house event on the Toledo-area Campus.

During the event, attendees had the chance to learn about and explore the many educational programs, services and resources available at Owens, as well as participate in several hands-on demonstration sessions which took place in the Schools’ of Arts and Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Nursing, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Technology.

For 21-year-old Lacey Cook of Perrysburg, the open house provided the perfect day to experience Owens and its many educational opportunities by meeting with College officials and visiting several laboratories.

“The open house allowed me to explore what Owens has to offer,” said Cook, who is considering a career change after working in pharmacy for several years. “This is the first step in my decision-making process of possibly choosing a new career. Owens offers degrees in everything, which is great.”

In addition to participating in hands-on demonstrations, visitors had the chance to meet with representatives and pick up information about such educational services as student orientation, financial aid, placement testing, admissions and advising. Individuals also visited the Offices of Career Services, Disability Services, Student Activities and Oserve, as well as the Child Care Center and the Owens Harvest Food Pantry throughout the open house event.

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Owens Center for Fine and Performing Arts to Host Second Annual High School Honors Band Day and Concert, May 7

Posted on April 27th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents with a passion and an enjoyment of music are invited to Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts as 60 of region’s finest high school musicians present a High School Honors Band Concert on Monday, May 7.

Presented in conjunction with the Department of Fine and Performing Arts’ second annual Owens High School Honors Band Day, the concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The performance is free and open to the public.

“Owens Community College’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts is proud to once again partner with area high schools and provide a day for students to showcase their impressive musical talents,” said Dr. Doug Mead, Owens Chair of Fine and Performing Arts. “High School Honors Band Day is designed to allow Northwest Ohio’s young and aspiring musicians to come together, learn from each other and experience the joy of music in a fun environment.”

Musical selections presented by the group will include “American Folk Fantasia”, “America Triumphant”, “Ascentium”, “Italian Holiday”, “Latin Celebration”, “Let Freedom Ring” and “Main Street Celebration”. Serving as conductors during the concert are Deputy Commander of the 338th Army Band Warrant Officer Teresa Hudson and retired Commander of the 555th Air Force Band Lt. Col. Robert Krichbaum.

Among the high schools participating in Owens’ High School Honors Band Day are Anthony Wayne H.S., Eastwood H.S., Elmwood H.S., Lake H.S., Maumee H.S., North Baltimore H.S., Rossford H.S. and Springfield H.S.

Throughout the daylong event, Owens High School Honors Band Day attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities in preparation for the High School Honors Band Concert, including seating auditions, full-band rehearsal and sectional-band rehearsal, among other music programming.

Owens’ Department of Fine and Performing Arts offers students the opportunity to pursue an associate degree in music performance/education in preparation for careers as aspiring music educators or performers. A music business technology certificate program is also available for those individuals interested in enhancing their knowledge within the areas of music business and studio music technology.

For more information about the concert, contact Owens’ Department of Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-7081 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7081.

Owens Community College Alumni Association Honors Local Safety Forces and Citizens With Outstanding Service Awards

Posted on April 27th, 2012

Eleven area residents were awarded Outstanding Service Awards by the College's Alumni Association for their outstanding contributions to Northwest Ohio's surrounding communities.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Eleven area residents have been chosen to receive the ninth annual Outstanding Service Awards by Owens Community College’s Alumni Association for tremendous contributions to Northwest Ohio’s surrounding communities. The recipients are honored as part of a community celebration.

Award winners are Zachary Zender, Mike Posadny, Mike Benadum, Kamal Parker, James Sherman, Larry Potts, Rick Backus, Melanie Harris, Brian Henry, Richard Mathias and Dr. Sue Gavron.

“Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is proud to once again recognize the humanitarian efforts of Northwest Ohio’s police, fire and emergency medical professionals, as well as private citizens,” said Andrea Gurcsik, Owens President of the Alumni Association. “Many of their selfless acts of public service go unnoticed as they do not seek out attention. The Outstanding Service Awards were created to honor their efforts and thank them for their continued service to our region, state and country.”

The awards are presented within the categories of outstanding Police Officer, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Service to Community and Community Spirit. Selection criterion is based upon a nomination process for candidates demonstrating exceptional service related to dedication, ingenuity, bravery, special skills and/or community service over a sustained period of time. The awards are not limited to a single recipient and can be a group honor where teamwork was a key element.

The recipient of the Outstanding Police Officer Award is Zachary Zender of Fremont (Deputy Sheriff, Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office). Zender was nominated by Sheriff Kyle Overmyer and Chief Deputy Bruce Hirt for putting his life at risk to save four individuals from a burning house.

On Sept. 28, 2011, Zender was on patrol in Ballville Township and spotted a house on fire in a rural area. He had the dispatcher contact the fire department, while he attempted to alert the residents by pounding on the front and back doors of the residence. Unable to wake the residents, Zender kicked the door open and found that the house was filling with smoke from the fire, which had started in the garage. He searched the home and found two children sleeping in a bedroom. Zender identified himself to the adult homeowner who was not aware of the fire. He then carried the two still-sleeping children to safety, while the homeowner woke an adult in another bedroom.

After the two children and two adults were safely outside the house, Ballville Township Volunteer Fire Department arrived, extinguished the fire and saved the home. Thanks to Zender’s quick action, none of the four residents suffered any injuries.

Mike Posadny of Perrysburg (Captain, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department), Mike Benadum of Genoa (Lieutenant, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department), Kamal Parker of Toledo (Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department), James Sherman of Holland (Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department), Larry Potts of Toledo (Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department), Rick Backus of Toledo (Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department) and Melanie Harris of Toledo (Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department) are named the Outstanding Firefighter Award recipients. They were nominated by Toledo Fire and Rescue Department Medal Ceremony Committee for risking their own lives to ensure the safety and survival of their fellow firefighters.

On Feb., 14, 2011, Engine 4 Company responded to a fire on Hilton Street in Toledo. While on the second floor searching for fire extension from the first floor, several firefighters were low on air and exited the building. However, Posadny and Parker, as well as the rest of the crew, remained on the second floor to check for hotspots. Suddenly, conditions went from good visibility to zero with high heat. Posadny led his firefighters toward a window on another side of the building. After Posadny successfully navigated his way to the window, he called for his crew to follow. Posadny and Parker quickly made it out, but the rest of the crew had become separated in the dense smoke and did not follow. Despite the fact that his low air alarm was ringing, Posadny re-entered the burning structure to search for the missing crew. Knowing that Posadny was low on air, Parker also re-entered the structure.

At this point, a crew from Engine 11 Company, including Sherman, Potts, Backus, Harris and Benadum began providing assistance by entering the structure via the front door. Upon entering the structure, a large fireball blew through the living room and up the interior stairwell over the group’s heads, cutting off access to the second floor. Under Benadum’s direction, the crew worked to force the fire back and off the stairwell long enough for the members of Engine 4 to exit. Despite an evacuation order, Benadum and other Engine 11 members remained in place protecting the only means of escape for Engine 4’s crew.

Additionally, Parker located the missing crew member at the furthest point from the exit and all three, including Posadny, along with the crew of Engine 11, made it out of the building safely. Posadny and Parker put their own lives at risk to find their separated crew member, while Benadum, Sherman, Potts, Backus and Harris ignored the danger to themselves to ensure the safety and survival of Posadny and Parker.

The Outstanding Emergency Medical Technician Award honor is presented to Brian Henry of Toledo (Lieutenant, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department). Henry was nominated by Toledo Fire and Rescue Department Captain Bryce Blair for his efforts in saving a person’s life under adverse conditions.

On Nov. 12, 2011, Henry was enjoying a weekend vacation trip at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio with his wife and friends when they noticed that an individual had lost his footing and fell over a cliff face, landing on the rocks more than 35 feet below. Henry quickly made his way down to the accident site and discovered that the victim was unconscious with a 10-inch laceration to his head. The injury was so severe that the victim’s breathing was abnormal and his skull was visible. Henry directed one of the members of his group to find a location where cell phone reception was possible and call 911 for assistance. With the assistance of medical doctors who happened to be present, Henry stabilized the victim, but it was obvious that they needed to get the victim out of the park as soon as possible for any chance of survival.

Henry organized the group of rescuers to carry the victim out the woods over approximately one third of a mile on broken nature trails, while still maintaining spinal stability and a patient airway. The group met the arriving emergency crew and transferred care to the medics. The victim’s injuries included sheering of the brain, a fractured left wrist and multiple lacerations to his body. Henry has kept in touch with the victim, who is expected to make a full recovery over the course of the next year.

Richard Mathias of Cygnet (Retired Fire Chief, Cygnet Volunteer Fire Department) is the recipient of the Outstanding Service to the Community Award. Mathias was nominated by Cygnet Mayor Nancy Myers for his tireless efforts to the Cygnet Volunteer Fire Department and the village of Cygnet.

Mathias began his volunteer fire service in Cygnet at the age of 18, following in the footsteps of his father and older brothers. Over the next 50 years, Mathias worked his way up the ranks to become the Fire Chief. Along the way, he was instrumental in getting a new addition for the fire station added to the village hall and maintaining the high standards of department’s equipment.

Throughout his years of service, Mathias’ dedication to keeping the community a safe place to live never faltered. He laid his life on the line to protect his fellow residents from fires in the oil fields, home and business fires, EMT runs and major traffic accidents. Additionally, he has allowed stranded travelers to stay in his home during extreme conditions, spent hours sitting atop overpasses during tornado alerts and worked to keep villagers safe from flooding issues.

In recent years, Mathias stayed active in the department to ensure that enough firefighters were available during the day when other firefighters went to work on their full-time jobs. He has given his time and energies beyond the call of duty in serving the citizens of Cygnet.

Dr. Sue Gavron of Bowling Green (Community Volunteer) is named the Community Spirit Award recipient. Gavron was nominated by American Red Cross Regional Director of Programs and Services Kenneth Robinson for her dedication and positive impact her volunteerism efforts have made on others throughout the Northwest Ohio region and beyond.

For over 50 years, Gavron has served in the Central Joint Fire District, which comprises Liberty Township, Portage Township, the village of Portage and parts of Plain Township, as a Firefighter, Department Trainer and a Public Information Officer, among many other positions. She currently provides support specific to scene photography and safety and maintains EMT certification.

Additionally, Gavron serves with the Wood County Health Department as an alternate Public Information Officer and helps to convene other county colleagues for resource sharing and collaboration. She played a key role in the response to the influenza pandemic through implementing sections of the department’s crisis response plan. She continues to serve on the Wood County Pandemic Readiness and Emergency Planning Committee and teaches National Incident Management System courses throughout the state.

Her volunteer efforts also include involvement with the American Red Cross for nearly seven years, having initially volunteered in response to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. Gavron has served as a Disaster Action Team captain, leading responses to local fires in Wood County and as a Disaster Services instructor for educational classes taking place throughout the region. In addition, she has supported local public information efforts on community preparedness and awareness raising for the American Red Cross, as well as serving as a public information officer during local fires. Most importantly, Gavron is a mentor to many volunteers and has touched the lives of hundreds of volunteers through her teaching and service.

Since opening its doors in 1965, Owens Community College has provided higher education to more than 250,000 students. Owens’ Alumni Association is committed to the personal and professional success of alumni and students through the ongoing development of value-added initiatives.

Owens Community College Alumni Association Awards Detective Keith Dressel Memorial Scholarship

Posted on April 27th, 2012

Joshua Pettit

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College student Joshua Pettit of Walbridge has been chosen by the Alumni Association to receive a $1,171 Detective Keith Dressel Memorial Scholarship for the upcoming 2012-13 academic year.

Established in 2007, the endowed scholarship honors the legacy of Detective Keith Dressel of the Toledo Police Department’s Vice/Narcotics Section Special Enforcement Division and his service to the community. The scholarship is given annually to an Owens student at the Outstanding Service Awards who has the courage to become a police officer and embodies the passion, conviction and perseverance demonstrated by Detective Dressel during his career.

According to Laura Moore, Executive Director of the Owens Alumni Association, the Detective Keith Dressel Memorial Scholarship was established to honor Detective Keith Dressel and his dedication to public service, as well as support the next generation of law enforcement officers.

“Both Detective Dressel and his wife, Danielle, are part of the College’s alumni family as they both attended Owens. The Alumni Association is pleased to award the Detective Keith Dressel Memorial Scholarship to Joshua Pettit as he is a very deserving recipient of this award and will certainly honor the legacy of Detective Dressel,” stated Moore.

Additional selection criteria for the scholarship is based upon recipients being enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours at Owens per semester, holding second-year student status and achieving at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average. Preference is given to students with aspirations of a law enforcement career.

Pettit is a full-time Owens student, having enrolled as a criminal justice major in the fall of 2011. He graduated from Penta Career Center (Lake High School) in 2011 with a Peace Officer Training Academy certificate.

His campus and community involvement includes membership in the College’s Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club student organization. As an Eagle Scout, Pettit enjoys teaching younger scouts camping skills and volunteers to assist other scouts with their projects. He is also a volunteer with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office Explorers group, assisting at various events and festivals on such activities as parking cars and fingerprinting children. While with the Explorers, Pettit has participated in numerous competitions involving CPR, ticket writing, crash investigation, hostage negotiation and many other scenarios.

Following graduation from Owens, Pettit plans to transfer to Tiffin University and earn his bachelor’s degree before finding employment as a law enforcement officer. Eventually, his goal is to obtain a master’s degree and continue his career with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

From a very young age, Pettit has envisioned becoming a police officer, specifically a drug enforcement agent. “I want to make a difference in the world and what better way to do that than by becoming a police officer,” explained Pettit.

In February 2007, Detective Dressel was fatally wounded in the line of duty. He provided public service to the Toledo Police Department and the citizens of Toledo for 14 years. Detective Dressel left behind his wife, Danielle, and two children, Sydney and Noah, along with a very large extended family.

803 Owens Community College Students to Graduate During Spring Commencement, May 4

Posted on April 26th, 2012

Andrea Price

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Eight hundred three candidates for graduation, including 165 from the Findlay-area Campus, will receive their degrees during the 46th annual Owens Community College Spring Commencement on Friday, May 4. The commencement will begin at 7 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on the College’s Toledo-area Campus.

Andrea Price, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercy, Northern Region, will serve as the keynote speaker for the College’s Spring Commencement. Owens’ commencement ceremony is free and open to the public.

Mercy, Northern Region, is the largest of its parent company, Catholic Health Partners, Cincinnati. Price joined Mercy in the fall of 2009 as Chief Operating Officer, at which time she assumed responsibility for the operations and performance of Mercy’s seven hospitals. One year later, she was promoted to lead the organization.

Previously, Price was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Mich., where she was responsible for the strategic direction of the system, which included Sparrow Hospital’s two Lansing campuses, as well as hospitals in St. Johns, Carson City and Ionia County. In addition, she was responsible for the daily operations of Sparrow Hospital, a 600-bed level one trauma center. Price also served in senior executive roles at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Mich., and Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

As a fellow and member in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Price has served on the Voluntary Giving Committee, the Confidential Committee, the Board of Governors, the Governance Implementation Task Force, the Regent’s Advisory Council, the Nominating Committee, Regent-at-Large, the Finance Committee, the Governance Ad Hoc Task Force and the Bylaws Committee.

She was appointed by the Mayor of Toledo to the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board. She also sits on the boards for the Regional Growth Partnership and Toledo Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Toledo.

In April 2008, Price was selected by “Modern Healthcare” Magazine as one of the Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare. In September 2008, she received the ACHE Distinguished Service Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Michigan Healthcare Executive Group and Associates. In October 2008, she received the Distinguished Senior Healthcare Executive Award from the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE).

Price was also the 2010 recipient of the Midwest Healthcare Executives Group and Associates (MHEGA) Regent’s Senior Level Healthcare Executive Award, which recognizes healthcare executives with more than 20 years of healthcare experience for their significant contributions toward the achievement of the goals of the ACHE and the advancement of healthcare management excellence. In addition to serving as a board member for MHEGA, she is the National President for the National Association of Health Services Executives, a non-profit designed to advance and develop black healthcare leaders and elevate the quality of healthcare services rendered to minority and underserved communities.

She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in health administration from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She and her husband, Dr. Edward Johnson, have four children.

Loral Browning, known as Mike to his friends and family, has been selected as the Owens class representative and will address the graduates during the Spring Commencement ceremony.

The Toledo resident is earning his associate’s degree in marketing and sales technology with a financial services sales option. Prior to enrolling at Owens, Browning was employed in the food industry as a distributor for 38 years. He never missed a paycheck until 2010, when he lost his job.

Loral Browning

“After working in business for so long, I thought I had nothing left to learn,” explained the 57-year-old Browning. “I soon realized that I would be learning new things every day.”

When Browning, who also is a grandfather, began his studies at Owens, he thought his educational path would end with an associate’s degree. He soon found that Owens and a college education was much more than he ever envisioned and that he was excited about the possibility of learning something new every day.

Owens Community College Adjunct Instructor Kate Fineske Chosen to Participate at National Education and Learning Conference

Posted on April 20th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Fine and Performing Arts Adjunct Instructor Kate Fineske of Sylvania has been chosen to represent Ohio at the third annual Mom Congress on Education and Learning Conference in Washington, D.C., April 29 – May 1. Fineske was chosen for her outstanding contributions and dedication to improving local schools.

A total of 51 delegates, representing each state and the District of Columbia, have been selected by “Parenting” magazine to participate in the national conference where they will have the opportunity to meet with national leaders in education, “Parenting” editors and past Mom Congress delegates to exchange ideas on how to enhance education.

“I am honored to have been chosen for this opportunity,” said Fineske. “As a mother to three, a volunteer leader within the community, an adjunct instructor at Owens Community College and a staff member and local leader with the National Association of Mothers’ Centers, I have a firm passion for motherhood and education. I am thrilled to be able to represent Ohio.”

Fineske’s community involvement includes serving as Vice President of the Sylvania School’s Parent School Council where she has assisted in organizing community events to help educate parents on topics like political candidates, school policies and most recently a Cyber Bullying Forum. She was also the Parent Volunteer Coordinator for the Sylvania School’s 2011 Levy Committee and is involved in her children’s Elementary School Parent Organization as the Parent Room Representative Coordinator. Additionally, she has provided leadership to the Mothers Center of Greater Toledo and is currently a staff member with the National Association of Mothers’ Centers.

As an educator, Fineske has served as an Adjunct Instructor at Owens for over 10 years in such academic areas as commercial art and graphic design. She has also volunteered her time to mentor local high school graphic design students, coordinated and supported various extra-curriculum commercial art initiatives at Owens and advised multiple area high school graphic design programs.

The 2012 Mom Congress conference, titled “Teach Me Something New”, is dedicated to fostering the important relationship between parents and their children’s teachers. Among the education and advocacy leaders scheduled to address the delegates are U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, as well as representatives from the National Education Association and Teach for America.

Faculty members from Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies will lead informative sessions at the conference this year, offering advocacy training workshops to help delegates take what they’ve learned and put it to work in their own communities.

Driven by the ever-increasing role that parents play in advocating for positive change in the education system, “Parenting” magazine launched the Mom Congress initiative in 2009 to celebrate and connect parents working to enhance our nation’s schools. Each month, “Parenting” and www.Parenting.com ( http://www.parenting.com/ )provide readers and the more than 25,000 Mom Congress members with educational news and resources to help them make a difference and bring about positive changes for students.

Owens Environmental Club to Host Denim Collection Drive, April 26 – May 6

Posted on April 19th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Environmental Club is encouraging area residents to bring their used denim jeans, jackets and purses of any particular color to the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses in support of environmental awareness as the student group hosts its third annual “Recycle Your Denim” Collection Drive, April 26 – May 6.

The denim collection drive initiative is part of a nationwide effort with the “®COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.” environmental program. Founded in 2006, the denim program gives “new life” to used items by converting them to UltraTouch National Cotton Fiber Insulation. The insulation is then provided to communities in need to assist with building efforts. UltraTouch is composed of 85 percent recycled cotton fibers and is an environmentally safe, non-itch insulation without carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde or chemical irritants.

At the collection drive’s conclusion, all denim materials will be presented to Eisenhower Middle School sixth grader Erek Hansen of Curtice to assist in his personal goal of collecting over 5,000 items for the “®COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.” program. Last year, the eleven-year-old collected 3,920 denim items.

Owens has set up a variety of collection points around the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. Area residents can drop off their denim items on the Toledo-area Campus at the Student Health and Activities Center and the College Hall Bookstore. On the Findlay-area Campus, collection points are in the College’s Atrium area.

For more information about the denim collection drive, or to donate, call (567) 661-7583 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7583.

Owens’ Community Terrace View Café Announces Garde Manger Grazing Stations Buffet, April 25

Posted on April 19th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to experience an array of amazing foods in the form of garnishes, hors d’oeuvres and appetizers at the Owens Community College Terrace View Café as students within the culinary arts program’s Garde Manger classes present the art and craft of the cold kitchen during a grazing station feature buffet on Wednesday, April 25.

Garde Manger classes will open the College’s student-run Terrace View Café to the public as attendees will have the opportunity to partake of sausages, smoked foods, cheeses, pâtés, vegetable and fruit carvings, chutneys, crackers and canapés from an array of buffet themed platters as part of their dining experience, including a French Bistro, a Taste of Italy and The Lone Star State.

The Garde Manger Grazing Stations Buffet will take place from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the College’s Terrace View Café, which is located in College Hall Room 148 on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens’ restaurant is coordinated by the Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Department.

The Owens culinary arts program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in the rapidly growing culinary arts industry. Both the associate’s degree and certificate prepares students for food preparation positions in restaurants, hotels, health care facilities, resorts and country clubs. The Garde Manger class is designed to provide students with experiential learning related to the art and craft of the cold kitchen. Classroom instruction includes the preparation of garnishes, hors d’oeuvres and appetizers, sausages and tureens, sauces and soups, and salads and sandwiches. Additionally, buffet presentation is highlighted as part of the academic curriculum.

The cost per lunch, which includes unlimited trips to the grazing stations, is $9 and reservations are required. Reservations can be made by calling (567) 661-7359 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7359. Individuals can also make a reservation by accessing the College’s website at www.owens.edu/terrace.

Owens Findlay-area Campus to Host Spring Student Art Exhibit, April 23 – May 4

Posted on April 18th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Owens Community College students will have the opportunity to showcase their many artistic talents as the Findlay-area Campus serves as host to its annual Spring Student Art Exhibition titled “Our Best Yet” in the Library Gallery, April 23 – May 4.

Additionally, the College will host a free community event, featuring Owens students, titled “An Evening of the Arts at Owens” on Tuesday, April 24. Owens student artists will share insight about their artistic expressions during a reception, which will occur from 5-7 p.m. in the Findlay-area Campus Library. Owens’ Findlay-area Campus is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

“Owens’ Findlay-area Campus is excited to once again showcase the many talents of our students through the Spring Student Art Exhibition,” said Gail McCain, Owens Library Manager for the Findlay-area Campus. “The artistic expressions reflect their unique creative abilities and are inspiring. I encourage area residents to visit the Library Gallery and view their impressive work.”

The Spring Student Art Exhibition will feature work by student artists enrolled in the College’s “Foundations in 2D Design” course, which is instructed by Erika Clark. In this course, students develop an understanding of basic studio art principles, critical skills and media manipulation, covering the topics of color theory and the use of two-dimensional space.

Additionally, Owens students enrolled in the College’s “Foundations in 3D Design” course, instructed by Owens Adjunct Instructor Rhonda Grubbs, will present their artistic expressions within the Library Gallery. In this course, students develop the ability to analyze form and space relationships while being introduced to basic three-dimensional processes and materials, including cardboard and clay.

Students from the College’s “Black and White Photography I and II” courses instructed by Melissa Harding, Owens Adjunct Instructor, will showcase their artistic work as part of the exhibit. The classes focus on photography both as a fine art and for commercial means. Students learn about the development of skills related to visual literacy, film exposure, making prints and preparing prints for exhibition, among many other areas.

Students within the College’s “Oil Painting” course will also showcase their talents as part of the exhibition. Instructed by Owens Adjunct Instructor Erika Clark, the course provides students with a hands-on introduction to oil painting techniques and application methods such as mixing and utilization of color theory.

Students whose work will be displayed are Tracy Grine of Findlay, Tom Miller of Findlay, Yoon Kyung Chung of Findlay, Scott Barclay of Findlay, Lyndia Hicks of Findlay, Kirsten Kelly of Findlay, Shane Burnworth of Dunkirk, Sarah Brink of Van Buren, Sam Darnall of Findlay, Joshua Johnson of Fostoria, Jessica Wickard of Bowling Green, Jeremy Swick of Findlay, Matthias Leguire of Findlay, Brooke Martin of Deshler, Angelica Luna of Findlay, Deserae Mowery of Findlay, Sarah Drier of Findlay, Barbara Fritz of Arlington, Jamye Galm of Findlay, Amanda Lawless of Findlay, Amy Atkinson of Findlay, Kate Trinko of Findlay, Mckenna Elder of Fostoria, Chelsee Beck of Fostoria, Rachel Enright of Findlay, Sandra Fitzgerald of Findlay, Warren Garnes of Findlay, Ashleey Hengsteler of Arcadia, Pamela Rowan of Arlington, Courtney Weaver of Carey, Allexis Bartson of Findlay, Stephanie Coleman of Fostoria, Brittany Eubanks of Bettsville, Aron Faeth of Fostoria, Jacob Hummel of Fostoria, Molly Sampson of Mount Blanchard and Carl Snowden of Fostoria.

Admission to the Findlay-area Campus Library Gallery is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information, contact the Library at (567) 429-3088 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3088.

Owens Student Group Raises Environmental Awareness During Sixth Annual Environmental Fair, April 26

Posted on April 18th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College will bring environmental awareness to the forefront as the Owens Environmental Club hosts its sixth annual Environmental Fair on Thursday, April 26. The public is encouraged to join the campus community in celebrating Earth Day 2012 and the importance of the environment through the various activities.

Environmental organizations from around the region are scheduled to participate in the fair, which will be held from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the College’s Math/Science Center. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Owens Environmental Fair participants include such organizations as Partners for Clean Streams and the Wood County Park District, among many others. In addition, several campus groups and organizations, including the Owens Environmental Club and Owens Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club, will host informational tables. Individuals will also have the opportunity to visit several student displays focused on environmental awareness and issues.

In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to view the film “Gasland.” The free film, which will air continuously in the Math/Science Center, will provide insight into the growing industry of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the United States.

The Owens Environmental Club is comprised of active students who are dedicated to addressing a multitude of environmental issues on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The student organization has successfully implemented numerous recycling programs, while bringing more awareness to environmental concerns. Within the community, the Owens Environmental Club regularly helps in community clean-ups and preserve restorations, participates in charity events, and supports various environmental causes with a yearly Human-I-Tees fundraiser.

A selection of healthy food will be available to event attendees. For additional information about Owens’ Environmental Fair activities, call (567) 661-7583 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7583.

Community Organizations Celebrate Earth Day 2012 with W.W. Knight Nature Preserve Beautification, April 20

Posted on April 17th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club, the Wood County Park District and Community Integration for Training and Employment (CITE) representatives will spend a morning at the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve on White Road in Perrysburg volunteering their time beautifying the grounds as the organizations join millions of individuals nationwide in celebration of Earth Day 2012 on Friday, April 20.

Beginning at 10 a.m., volunteers will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty by participating in a variety of general spring clean-up projects, including removing invasive plants from the preserve. Representatives will conclude their volunteer beautification efforts around 2 p.m. that same day.

Additionally, the volunteer service project is occurring in conjunction with the nationwide PLANET (Professional Landcare Network) Day of Service. The program is designed to unite PLANET members around the country for a day of giving back to their communities. PLANET is an international association serving lawn care professionals, landscape management contractors, design/build/installation professionals and interior plantscapers. The organization provides its members with a good business foundation to help them evaluate, plan and better manage their companies.

The Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. The organization mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. The Earth Day Network has a global reach with more than 22,000 partners and organizations in 192 countries. More than one billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

For more information, or to volunteer, call (586) 292-0664.

Owens Center for Fine and Performing Arts Welcomes Internationally-Known Culinary Explorer Andrew Zimmern, April 30

Posted on April 16th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited on a journey of exotic food exploration and discovery as Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts welcomes internationally-known chef, writer and culinary explorer Andrew Zimmern to the Mainstage Theatre for a lecture presentation on Monday, April 30.

Zimmern’s lecture presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Andrew Zimmern is known internationally for his culinary expertise and knowledge,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Director for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “He has traveled the world exploring the cuisine of other countries and will share his cultural experiences with attendees as part of a lecture presentation.”

As the co-creator, host and consulting producer of Travel Channel’s series “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” and “Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World”, Zimmern travels the globe exploring food, which is found in world class restaurants as well as in local street carts and jungle markets.

In May 2010, Zimmern was honored with the James Beard Award for Outstanding TV Food Personality. His online series “Appetite for Life” received an Effie in 2010. “Bizarre Foods” also took home two CableFax awards in 2009, one for Best Television Program: Food, and another for Best Online Extras for his other web series “Bizarre Foods in the Kitchen”.

Additionally, Zimmern is a contributing editor and award-winning monthly columnist at the “Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine” and a senior editor at “Delta Sky Magazine”. As a freelance journalist, his work has appeared in numerous national and international publications, including “Food and Wine” and “Saveur”.

Zimmern is also the author of “The Bizarre Truth” and has several books slated for release in the near future.

Tickets for the lecture presentation are $40 for main seating and $30 for raised seating. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Community College Environmental Club to Host Spring Electronics Collection Drive, April 24

Posted on April 16th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Environmental Club is encouraging area residents to bring their used electronic devices to the Toledo-area Campus in support of environmental awareness as the student group serves as host to an “E-Waste” Collection Drive on Tuesday, April 24.

The electronics collection drive initiative is part of a collaborative effort with Recycle It USA’s environmental program, where electronic items are either given new life and use through a refurbishment process or recycled with the various components being broken down and disseminated to recycle-specific organizations.

“The Owens Environmental Club is excited to once again work with Recycle It USA in an effort to make sure that electronic devices do not end up in landfills,” said Brad Fields of Toledo, Owens student and Environmental Club President. “This event has been a huge success in the past and we encourage people to donate their unwanted items.”

Items being collected include computers, displays, printers, keyboards and mice, scanners, projectors, document cameras, speakers, storage devices, stereo equipment, cameras and camcorders, networking hardware, cell phones, cables, video game consoles and flash drives, among other items. Televisions are not being accepted as part of the electronics collection drive event.

Electronic devices can be dropped off from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. outside the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Proceeds from all cell phones collected will benefit the College’s Environmental Club. For more information about the electronics collection drive, call (567) 661-7583 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7583.

Owens Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club Hosts Annual Spring Plant Sale, April 25-26

Posted on April 16th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents seeking to add some new life and color to their gardens and yards this spring are encouraged to attend the Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club’s annual Spring Plant Sale at Owens Community College, April 25-26.

The plant sale will be held from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. next to the greenhouse, which is near the entrance to the Owens Math/Science Center on the Toledo-area Campus. The sale will feature a wide selection of shrubs and rare, unusual trees, as well as annuals, among other items. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

According to Chris Foley, Owens Associate Professor of Science, the student organization is excited to once again offer individuals the rare opportunity to purchase select trees, shrubs and annuals at a very minimal cost for the upcoming spring planting season.

“The annual spring plant sale also provides our students with the unique opportunity to showcase their talents to the general public and the campus community in the form of a wide range of hanging baskets and planters filled with beautiful blooming plants,” added Foley. “The containers were all grown by the students within the College’s greenhouse.”

A majority of the shrubs will cost $15-20, while varieties of trees will cost between $15-30. All proceeds from the plant sale will help in supporting the organization’s participation in the annual PLANET (Professional Landcare Network) Student Career Days, which is a national horticultural and landscape competition involving over 50 colleges and universities across the country.

Shrubs on hand will include assorted hydrangeas and flowering shrubs, as well as the Emerald Green Arborvitae, Bottle Brush Buckeye and Virginia Sweetspire, among many others. Several rare and unusual trees will also be available, including the Japanese Stripped-bark Maple, Chinese Dogwood, Carolina Silverbell and White Oak. The Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club will also sell perennials, including select hostas and daylilies. In addition, an assortment of planters and hanging baskets with flowering annuals, grown by the College’s greenhouse management class, will be available this year. Hanging baskets will cost $12, while combination planters will cost $6-20. A complete listing of the available plants with their prices is available online at www.owens.edu/direct/plantsale.pdf.

The College’s Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club was founded in 2005 with the mission of fostering stronger bonds among students majoring in the Landscape and Turfgrass Management program. Among the organization’s main initiatives is creating a network between alumni and current students to help in assisting individuals pursue careers within the landscape, turfgrass and related horticulture industries. The group also hosts fundraisers to support club outreach activities in the surrounding communities.

For more information about the Owens Landscape and Turfgrass Crew Club plant sale, call (567) 661-7623 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7623.

Owens Concert Band to Host Spring Pops Concert, April 29

Posted on April 13th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited listen to array of musical selections ranging from Broadway Show songs to patriotic-themed numbers as the Owens Community College Concert Band presents its annual Spring Pops Concert on Sunday, April 29.

The concert will begin 2:30 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The performance is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Selections presented by the Owens Concert Band, which is comprised of Owens students and employees and community members, will include songs from the musicals “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “ABBA on Broadway”, as well as such music as “Semper Fidelis”, “All Glory Told” and “El Choclo”. Guest singer Eddie Boggs will also perform a number of songs to the accompaniment of the Owens Concert Band, including “Our American Soldiers” and “You Raise Me Up“, among others.

Additionally, World War II veteran and Silver Star Medal recipient Earl Geoffrion of Oregon, age 94, will be honored for his bravery and service to his country as part of the Owens Concert Band performance.

For more information about the Spring Pops Concert, contact the College’s Fine and Performing Arts Department at (567) 661-7081 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7081.

Owens Arrowhead Park Learning Center to Host Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon, April 25

Posted on April 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Workforce and Community Services will celebrate Administrative Professionals Day by honoring area administrative professionals with a special luncheon featuring Hands-On Consulting Inc. owner and author Karen Shulman as a special guest speaker on Wednesday, April 25. The presentation will focus on “Fueling Your Dreams” during the luncheon event.

The Administrative Professionals Day luncheon will occur from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center on Indian Wood Circle in Maumee. Area administrative professionals and community members are encouraged to attend the event.

Shulman serves as owner of Hands-on Consulting Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in human resource issues, such as developing, customizing and conducting training programs, and facilitating team processes. A second division specializes in licensed massage therapy. Her educational background includes holding a master’s of organizational development degree from Bowling Green State University and a bachelor’s of business administration degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Shulman also is a Certified Dream Manager, a Certified Compensation Professional through the American Compensation Association and a Licensed Massage Therapist through both the State Medical Board of Ohio and the State of Florida Department of Health.

Additionally, she is the author of the book “I Never Meant to be Funny: True Mother and Daughter Stories”.

The cost of the luncheon is $20 and reservations are required. For more information, call (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Community College to Host Second Annual Honors Program Symposium and Medallion Ceremony, April 20

Posted on April 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College students pursuing academic studies at the highest level will have the opportunity to showcase their research and creative work in multiple disciplines as the academic institution hosts its second annual Honors Program Symposium and Medallion Ceremony on Friday, April 20.

The Honors Program Symposium and Medallion Ceremony will occur from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Founders Hall on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The event is free and open to the public.

“Owens Community College is extremely proud to once again host an event which affords students the opportunity to share their academic findings with both the campus community and the general public through oral presentations,” said Dr. Russell Bodi, Owens Professor of English and Honors Program Director. “The students participating in the second annual Honors Program Symposium and Medallion Ceremony are leaders who have challenged their intellectual growth at the highest level. The College and the Honors Program is honored to recognize them on their accomplishments.”

Mirroring a professional academic conference, Owens’ Honors Program Symposium and Medallion Ceremony will feature oral presentations by students on several topic areas, including intellectualism, applied math and social science, medical issues, critical thinking, business, literature, international affairs and Shakespeare, among others. Each presentation is a collaborative effort between the Honors Program student and an Owens faculty member.

Owens students presenting papers and their topics as part of the academic symposium are Jason Saxton of Toledo (The Need for Change in Funding for Public Education); Nicole Drake of Pemberville (Shakespeare and Performativity); Keith Crossman of Toledo (The Lisbon Earthquake’s Intellectual Fallout in Mid-Eighteenth to Early Nineteenth Century Europe) and (Unending Truth Search: Why Would a Good God Allow Suffering?); Obadah Alfaham of Sylvania (Examining Anonymous) and (Shakespeare’s Fools); Alexandra Hill of Gibsonburg (Sound in the Sand / Robert Helwarth: The Math Behind Lasers and Holography); Carrie Lee of Oak Harbor (Cell Miscommunication and Cancer Growth) and (Telomere Length and the Correlation to Cancer Cell Immortality); Andrew Hartke of Oregon (The Ethics of Easing); Dee Swafford of Toledo (Electronic Health Records); Lindsay Cervantes of Findlay (Postual Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: Exploring the Unknown); Adam Rae of Toledo (Howard Hughes); Michelle Weber of Toledo (A Look at Deaf Communities: Past and Present); Adam Masters of Perrysburg (Outsourcing and America); Terry Burkhead of Toledo (Medicare Wait Program Needs Fixed) and (Patton: America’s Secret Weapon); Jasin Sosbe of Perrysburg (Housing Bubble: Boom or Bust); Kayla Mustard of McComb (New Critical View of Beowulf); Christy Hamman of Bloomdale (Coming Into Heritage: The Joy Luck Club); Amanda Alfarah of Toledo (The Problem with U.S. Foreign Relations in Iran); Ebrahim Yasin of Cairo, Egypt (The Economic Impact of U.S Military Aid to Egypt); Michael Elieff of Toledo (The Good, the Bad, the Human), and Rajesh Felix of Perrysburg (The Machiavellian Iago: The Fox and the Lion).

In addition to the oral presentations, the Owens Honors Program will recognize five students for their educational success and leadership with the bestowing of an Owens Honors Program medallion. The five students being recognized for the 2012 Spring Semester are Geraldine Davis of Toledo, Andrew Hartke of Oregon, Alexandra Hill of Gibsonburg, Adam Masters of Perrysburg and Jason Saxton of Toledo.

The Honors Program at Owens was founded with the overall mission of providing a challenging educational opportunity, above and beyond the standard curriculum, for exceptional students who strive for academic excellence. Over 100 students are members of the current Owens Honors Program on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

To be considered for admission into the selective program, a currently enrolled student must have a minimum 3.2 grade point average with 12 credits completed at Owens. A new student must have achieved a high school 3.2 grade point average or be enrolled as a post secondary enrollment option student. Additionally, applicants must have two recommendations from faculty members.

Honors Program students must complete a total of 15 credit hours of honors courses, which includes nine credit hours of elective honors courses and two core courses titled Introduction to Critical Thinking and Honors Great Readings: Ancient World through the Middle Ages. To graduate as an Honors Scholar and receive the Honors Program medallion, a student must earn a cumulative 3.5 grade point average and complete an honors portfolio where they engage in directed research or service learning around essential questions or themes appropriate to their program of study as part of a capstone project, among other criteria.

In addition, Owens Honors Program graduates are able to continue their educational pursuits at Bowling Green State University or the University of Toledo as the academic institutions have in place seamless transfer agreements between the respective Honors Programs.

31 Students to Graduate From Owens Basic Peace Officer Training Academies, April 18

Posted on April 11th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Thirty-one students will be recognized as Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Academy graduates at Owens Community College on Wednesday, April 18.

The special ceremonies will occur at 7 p.m. in the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The College’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy graduation is open to the public.

“Owens Community College is proud to continue its collaboration with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission and recognize these 31 individuals for their educational accomplishment,” said Robert Albright, Owens Academic Program Chair of Criminal Justice and Emergency Management. “Our nation would not experience freedom and safety as we know it without each graduate’s decision to pursue a career in public service.”

Founded in 1970, the Basic Peace Officer Training Academy is offered in cooperation with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission. As part of the seven-month program, Owens police academy students take courses in patrol operations, firearms, defensive tactics and criminal investigation using modern, high-tech police equipment. Participants receive expert instruction from local police officers, sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers, as well as state and federal agents.

Following successful completion of the College’s Basic Peace Officer Training Academy, Owens graduates become eligible for certification as an Ohio peace officer. In addition, coursework earned by police academy graduates will apply toward an associate degree at Owens in law enforcement.

Local law enforcement agencies where Owens graduates have been employed include the Findlay Police Department, Fostoria Police Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Lucas County Sheriff’s Department, Maumee Police Department, Northwood Police Department, Perrysburg City Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Sylvania City Police Department, Sylvania Township Police Department, Toledo Police Department and the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.

The following students have completed the required number of law enforcement contact hours set forth by the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission.

Toledo-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Day Academy:
Patriann Booth of Toledo
Christopher Buck of Woodville
Michael Cropcho of Perrysburg
Melissa Edwards of Toledo
Jeffrey Goetz Jr. of Toledo
Daniel Griffith of Genoa
Kevin Howard Jr. of Oregon
Bobbie-Jo Newman of Waterville
Dominic Pepitone of Toledo
Josh Reindel of Oregon
Nicholas Schumaker of Maumee
Crystal Spain of Toledo
Jacob Strayer of Toledo
John Vanhersett of Oregon
Adam Waggoner of Waterville

Toledo-area Campus Basic Peace Officer Night Academy:
Andrew Blair of Temperance, Mich.
Travis Brewer of Rossford
William Cook of Toledo       (sponsored by Mercy Health Partners Public Safety Department)
David Dunn of Toledo
John Eggleston of Bowling Green
Paul Emerick of Northwood
James Higgins of Toledo       (sponsored by Mercy Health Partners Public Safety Department)
Jared Hornyak of Oregon
Michael Meyers of Sylvania
Nicholas Owens of Lambertville, Mich.
Michael Pekan of Temperance, Mich.
Charles Sims of Toledo       (sponsored by Mercy Health Partners Public Safety Department)
Anthony Szymczak of Toledo   (sponsored by Woodville Police Department)
Christopher Timm of Swanton   (sponsored by Pemberville Police Department)
Verl Warnimont of Findlay
Shaun Wittmer of Whitehouse   (sponsored by Pioneer Police Department)

Owens Presents ‘Melodic Expressions’ Seventh Annual Spring Concert Series, April 16-29

Posted on April 10th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents with a passion and an enjoyment of music are encouraged to join in celebrating the culmination of an academic year’s worth of Department of Fine and Performing Arts education as Owens Community College presents its seventh annual “Melodic Expressions” Spring Concert Series, April 16-29. The Spring Concert Series will showcase the accomplishments of Owens students in a number of performances ranging from vocal to instrumental.

“‘Melodic Expressions’ is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the tremendous accomplishments of our Owens Community College Department of Fine and Performing Arts students,” said Dr. Douglas Mead, Owens Chair of Fine and Performing Arts. “The upcoming concerts and ensembles have been mastered through academic learning within the classroom this past year. Events such as ‘Melodic Expressions’ provide our students with a great venue to display such musical talents in a real world setting.”

All events will occur in the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township. The schedule of events is as follows:

Monday, April 16
Owens Musical Theatre Preview
Owens students will perform selections from their upcoming student production “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”.
(2 p.m.) (Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Wednesday, April 18
Owens Voices Concert
The College’s student voices ensemble will present a wide selection of extremely popular rock songs as part of a concert performance.
(2 p.m.) (Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Wednesday, April 25
Owens Guitar Ensemble
Students from the Owens guitar ensemble class will perform some of their favorite music, showcasing the skills they have acquired through the use of this classic instrument.
(2 p.m.) (Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Thursday, April 26
Owens Pop Ensemble
Owens student performers within the College’s pop ensemble class will showcase their musical skills during a performance that will highlight an array of genres, including pop, rock and funk, among others.
(2 p.m.) (Center for Fine and Performing Arts Rotunda)

Friday, April 27
Owens Pop Music Concert
The College’s student voices choir will present a wide selection of extremely popular songs, ranging from musical selections by Michael Jackson to Adele, as part of a concert performance.
(7 p.m.) (Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre)

Sunday, April 29
Owens Concert Band
Attendees are in for an afternoon of masterful sounds courtesy of Owens’ concert band class. The concert will feature a wide range of musical selections to include patriotic music, Broadway show tunes and marches.
(2:30 p.m.) (Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre)

All the performances are open to the public. For more information about the “Melodic Expressions” Spring Concert Series, contact the College’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-7081 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7081.

Owens to Showcase Academic Programs and Services During Open House Event, April 21

Posted on April 4th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to learn about and explore the many educational programs, services and resources available at Owens Community College as the academic institution serves as host to an open house event on Saturday, April 21.

The event is open to the public and will take place from 12-4 p.m. at various locations on the College’s Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to offer a day where community members can learn about and experience our many academic programs and services,” said Cory Stine, Owens Director of Admissions. “The open house is designed for prospective students and families to experience Owens Community College and the many educational opportunities that our academic institution has to offer.”

Owens’ open house event will commence at 12 p.m. with welcoming remarks by Owens Vice President and Provost Dr. Renay Scott and Director of Admissions Cory Stine in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 121-128. Following opening comments, individuals are invited meet with representatives and pick up information about such educational services as student orientation, placement testing, admissions and advising. Additionally, Owens Dean of Enrollment Services Betsy Johnson will be providing a presentation on financial aid at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in several hands-on demonstration sessions taking place in the Schools’ of Arts and Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Nursing, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Technology. The sessions will take place at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. at various locations on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens sessions will occur in many of the College’s state-of-the-art experiential learning classrooms and highlight such topics as blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, automotive diagnostics, accounting, nutrition, security vulnerabilities in various computer operating systems, physics of momentum and energy, techniques of improvisation as an actor/actress, and microbiology and immunology, among other educational topics.

In addition, individuals will have the chance to visit the Offices of Career Services, Disability Services, Student Activities and Oserve, as well as the Child Care Center and the Owens Harvest Food Pantry throughout the open house event.

All attendees are encouraged to visit the check-in and information location at the Audio/Visual Classroom Center entrance upon arrival to the Toledo-area Campus.

For more information, or to register for the open house, call (567) 661-2180 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2180. Or, check out the Owens website at www.owens.edu/openhouse/.

Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus to Host First-Ever Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding Day, April 17

Posted on April 3rd, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Owens Community College is encouraging area residents to bring their used electronic devices and unwanted paper documents to the Findlay-area Campus in support of environmental awareness and to advocate against identity theft as the academic institution serves as host to its first-ever Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding Day on Tuesday, April 17. The event is taking place in recognition of the upcoming celebration of Earth Day (April 22).

Coordinated by the College’s Office of Student Activities, the electronics and paper shredding initiative is part of a collaborative effort with AccuShred, which is a high-security information destruction company that provides service throughout Ohio, Michigan and parts of Indiana. Based in Toledo and a subsidiary of the State Paper and Metal Co., the organization also offers various EPA-certified computer and electronics recycling services.

“Owens Community College’s Findlay-area Campus is proud to work with the AccuShred organization and help our environment by making sure that electronic devices and paper do not end up in landfills, as well as protect consumer information,” said James Katzner, Owens Manager of Student Activities and Conduct. “I encourage area residents to participate in the College’s new community outreach program by bringing in their old electronic devices and paper documents. Owens is excited to extend this new service and opportunity to the surrounding communities.”

Electronic items being collected include computer towers and monitors, hard drives, circuit boards, keyboards and mice, speakers, printers, cable, scanners, servers, fax machines, modems, tape drives, cell phones, DVD and VCR players, CD players, video game systems, video cameras, radios and stereos, among other items. Televisions are not being accepted as part of the collection drive event.

In addition, representatives will be accepting sensitive information to be shredded, including confidential documents, check stubs, bank statements, credit card offers, floppy disks and CDs. People can bring up to 10 boxes of paper documents for shredding purposes.

Items can be dropped off from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in parking lots B and C, which are situated in the northwest portion of the Findlay-area Campus. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

For more information about Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding Day, call (567) 429-3029 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3029.

Owens Community College Students to Host Prom Dress Extravaganza Event for High School Students, April 14

Posted on April 3rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area high school students and their families searching for that hard-to-find prom dress and accompanying accessories at minimal cost are invited to visit Owens Community College as the Raising Awareness Club presents its second annual Prom Dress Extravaganza on Saturday, April 14.

The Prom Dress Extravaganza will take place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.

During the event, high school students and their families will have the opportunity to select from an assortment of nearly 500 prom dresses and accessories for minimal cost ranging from $5-20 for dresses and 50 cents to $5 for accessories. Featured items available for purchase will be gently used dresses, shoes, purses, gloves and jewelry, among other prom accessories.

Additionally, shopping mentors will be on hand to assist individuals in their shopping experience.

“The Raising Awareness Club cannot thank the surrounding communities enough for their generosity and support to the prom dress event,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Activities Assistant and Raising Award Club Advisor. “We have almost 500 dresses and a variety of prom-specific items for high school students and their families to choose from. Our goal is to lend a helping hand to as many students as possible and make sure that they receive a special high school prom experience.”

Any items not claimed during the Prom Dress Extravaganza will be donated to Camp Courageous near Whitehouse. All proceeds raised from the prom dress initiative will be used to benefit future community outreach activities for the Raising Awareness Club.

For more information about the event, call (567) 661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2569.

Owens Community College Students to Host Community Craft and Trade Show Benefit, April 5-7

Posted on April 2nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to spend some time shopping at Owens Community College for a good cause as the Owens Students Against Cancer organization serves as host to a Craft and Trade Show, April 5-7.

The Craft and Trade Show, which is free and open to the public, will occur daily (Thursday-Saturday) from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. A portion of the funds raised from the event will benefit Breast Cancer Fund of Ohio.

“The Owens Students Against Cancer group is excited to host a community event where we can raise some funds for a good cause,” said Joshua Widanka, Owens Students Against Cancer President. “Breast Cancer Fund of Ohio assists with such services as transportation to treatments and child care. Funds raised for Breast Cancer Fund of Ohio stay in Ohio to help individuals in need.”

More than 20 community organizations will be on hand selling various items ranging from scented candles to accessories.

Breast Cancer Fund of Ohio was founded with the overall mission of helping Ohio breast cancer patients survive the hardships of cancer treatments by providing emergency financial assistance.

For more information about the Craft and Trade Show, call (419) 902-0199.

Owens Fine and Performing Arts Department and Students Present ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,’ April 13-15 and 20-22

Posted on April 2nd, 2012

Student Theatre Production - "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Owens students (L to R) Andy Sweney of Perrysburg (playing Coneybear) and Amber Breault-Albain of Toledo (playing Olive) attempt to get their hands on the spelling bee championship in the theatrical student production "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee".

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The hilarious tale of a spelling bee championship event will serve as the theatrical focus in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts’ Mainstage Theatre as Owens Community College presents the student production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” April 13-15 and 20-22.

The first of several performances will occur at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13 in the College’s Mainstage Theatre. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is excited to present such an extremely well-known theatrical production, featuring the talents of both students and community members,” said Jeremy Meier, Owens Assistant Professor of Fine and Performing Arts. “Theatergoers will certainly enjoy the storyline of six awkward teenagers striving to win a spelling bee, which is full of many surprises and an unexpected ending.”

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” tells the comedic story of six adolescent children all vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. During the Tony Award-winning production, the cast of young people discover that winning isn’t everything and that losing a spelling bee doesn’t necessarily make you a loser.

The cast is comprised of students from Owens, as well as community members, and the theatrical production is directed by Owens Assistant Professor of Fine and Performing Arts Jeremy Meier. Owens student Diane Schroeder of Sylvania will hold the position of stage manager, while Andrew Oberski of Toledo, Kristen Keller of Toledo and Mallory Myers of Whitehouse will serve as assistant stage managers.

Students involved in the production as cast members include Nick Gallagher of Genoa, Elizabeth Williamson of Perrysburg, Emily Pheils of Rossford, Andy Sweney of Perrysburg, John Toth of Toledo, Alisha Bond of Bowling Green, Joshua Smith of Toledo, Tim Mitchell of Oregon, Ryan Nijakowski of Bowling Green and Silvester Rodriguez IV of Archbold. Community members Gabi Shook of Monclova and Amber Breault-Albain of Toledo are also participating in the production as cast members.

The student production will be performed April 13-14 and 20-21at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances will also occur April 15 and 22 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for the general public and $8 for Owens students and employees. All seats are general admission. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information, call the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens’ Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery Presents Juried Student Art Exhibition, April 3-28

Posted on April 2nd, 2012

The Juried Student Art Exhibition features over 80 pieces of artwork, including Owens student Emily Carros' ceramic work titled "Fecundi Tea"

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College students will have the unique opportunity to showcase their artistic talents as the Center for Fine and Performing Arts hosts the ninth annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, April 3-28.

In addition, the College will host a free opening reception and award ceremony for the exhibit on Saturday, April 14 from 4-6 p.m. in the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens’ Center for Fine and Performing Arts is proud to once again feature the finest works of art produced by our students,” said Wynn Perry, Owens Coordinator of the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery. “The artistic expressions are extremely individualized and reflect the unique creative ability of each student artist, which will certainly delight exhibit attendees.”

Owens students displaying artwork include Tabitha Adams of Bowling Green, Nick Arquette of Toledo, Devin Bader of Toledo, Andrea Baker of Rossford, Richard Ball of Toledo, Sandi Blair of Toledo, Mark Boggs of Portage, Roberta Borer of Toledo, Mike Budyka of Perrysburg, Terry Burkhead of Toledo, Katie Callahan of Oak Harbor, Emily Carros of Toledo, Maureen Cook of Waterville, Jasmine Cupp of Port Clinton, Nathan Daulbaugh of Toledo, Jose Degollado of Oregon, Isabelle Dickerson of Holland, Jamie Fields of Toledo, Robert Gottschalk of Oregon, Cherie Guthrie of Waterville, Matt Hamilton of Toledo, Timothy Haney of Toledo, Chris Hatfield of Toledo, Averia Hollanshed of Northwood, Andrianne Jennings of Toledo, Mihee Kim of Rossford, Ellen Koeberlein of Whitehouse, Jodie Laing of Toledo, Ron Lauman of Toledo, Katherine Lehnert of Toledo, Nicole Lowery of Toledo, Michael Matuszewsi of Toledo, Kelli Miller of Toledo, David Moyer of Sylvania, Sam Munding of Maumee, Taylor Palicki of Maumee, Clayton Parento of Toledo, Justin Parker of Toledo, Kelly Parkhurst of Sylvania, Michael Pettengill of Oregon, Andrew Pinciotti of Millbury, Katy Reichert of Bowling Green, Katrina Roberts of Toledo, Candace Robinson of Martin, Jessica Russell of Sylvania, Sydney Sawkins of Toledo, Brittany Shaffer of Lindsey, Andrew Smith of Waterville, Barbara Stengle of Toledo, Devon Sturdivant of Toledo, Thomas Sumwalt of Perrysburg, Kathie Vanness of Bowling Green, Paul Verdell of Perrysburg, Janelle Watkins of Holland and Cathy Zeltner of Toledo.

Owens’ Juried Student Art Exhibition features over 80 pieces of artwork in the categories of fine art, photography and commercial art. Fifty-five students enrolled within Fine and Performing Arts courses at Owens have had their artwork accepted for the show. Area artists and professionals served as the jury for the exhibit.

Admission to the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. For additional information about the exhibit, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2721 or (567) 661-2721.

Owens Community College Announces Summer Bridge to Success Program Expansion

Posted on April 2nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Any area high school graduates from public and private high schools, as well as career centers, within the College’s legal district will have the opportunity to experience a taste of college life for free prior to the beginning of their first Fall Semester at Owens Community College as the academic institution announces the expansion of the Bridge to Success Program. The free program is designed to help first-year students successfully transition from high school to college.

“Owens Community College is proud to expand the Bridge to Success Program and offer even more educational opportunities to students throughout Northwest Ohio,” said Jacquelyn Jones, Owens Manager of Bridge to Success. “The Bridge to Success Program was created to help students strengthen their skills, build their confidence and get off to a successful start as they enter college. We look forward to helping more students in their educational and career pursuits.”

In order to be eligible for the Bridge to Success Program, prospective students must be high school graduates within the last academic year and have passed all parts of the Ohio Graduation Test unless there was an exemption. Individuals must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 30 and complete the Bridge to Success Program application by May 4. Students do not need to be federal Pell grant funding eligible for participation in the Bridge to Success Program.

Enrollment in the program is limited to 50 students on the Toledo-area Campus and 25 students on the Findlay-area Campus. Owens’ Bridge to Success Program begins in June with an orientation and an induction ceremony for the participating students. Over 200 students have participated in Bridge to Success since the program was established in 2008.

Owens will host two open houses for those individuals interested in learning more about the program. The Bridge Open House on the Toledo-area Campus will take place May 1 from 6-9 p.m. in the Audio/Visual Classroom Center Room 124, while the Bridge Open House on the Findlay-area Campus will occur May 2 from 6-9 p.m. in Room 173. Attendees must RSVP by April 20.

For more information about the Bridge to Success Program and the upcoming open house events, call (567) 661-2170 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2170.

Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association Presents Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner, April 22

Posted on March 29th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to enjoy a unique dining experience featuring an array of culinary dishes by some of the finest chefs and culinary students around the region as the Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association local chapter of the American Culinary Federation presents the 32nd Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner on Sunday, April 22.

The event, which begins at 5 p.m. and takes place at the Inverness Club in Toledo, is being coordinated by professionals and aspiring culinary professionals, including Owens and Penta Career Center representatives, within the Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association. All proceeds from the event will benefit scholarships presented to students by the Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association.

The evening will commence with several hor d’oeuvre tables prepared by the Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association student chapter. Dinner will follow and feature one of four pre-ordered entrees for attendees. Entrée selections will include oven roasted Idaho rainbow trout with a shrimp and crabmeat stuffing, walnut and mushroom stuffed chicken roulades, Ohio beer braised boneless short rib with reduced stout demi glace and spring vegetable rolls with mushroom duxelles. All entrees will include a seasonal contemporary salad and a honey cake with thyme ice cream.

Serving as the keynote speaker for this year’s annual scholarship and awards dinner is Veggie U Director of Development Molly Thompson. Veggie U is a national not-for-profit organization that offers an Earth to Table science curriculum to fourth grade and special needs classrooms. Located in Milan, Ohio, the organization is dedicated to placing hands-on curriculum in all 93,000 fourth grade classrooms nationwide in an effort to decrease childhood disease, and increase youth awareness of healthy food options and the importance of sustainability agriculture.

In addition, Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association will present multiple student scholarships to deserving and aspiring culinary professionals. Other honors being awarded to culinary professionals during the event include Aspiring Culinarian, Chef Professionalism, Educator of the Year and Chef of the Year.

The Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association is comprised of chefs, cooks and aspiring culinarians from Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan who are committed to providing a variety of professional development opportunities and scholarship assistance to food service professionals and culinary students living in the region. Established in 1976 as a charter of the American Culinary Federation, the Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association is engaged in a variety of charitable causes, including food preparation projects, education, certifications and scholarships.

The ticket cost is $65 per person or $400 for a table of eight individuals. Reservations are required and must be made by April 15. For additional information, call (567) 661-7563 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7563. Individuals can make a reservation by accessing the Maumee Valley Chefs’ Association website at www.maumeevalleychefs.com.

Owens Announces Basic Motorcycle Safety Training Classes for Upcoming Spring, Summer and Fall Months

Posted on March 27th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area motorcycle enthusiasts interested in enhancing their knowledge about safe driving are invited to enroll in upcoming Motorcycle Safety Training classes offered through Owens Community College’s Workforce and Community Services. The classes will occur during the months March through October.

The College’s Motorcycle Safety Training is the only basic motorcycle-rider course offered in Wood County and is one of only 22 permanent training locations in Ohio. Owens’ motorcycle safety training is a three-day course, which occurs on Thursday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. Initial classes will take place Thursday-Sunday, March 29 – April 1.

Motorcycle Ohio is regarded as the premier motorcycle safety and education program in the state, having enhanced the riding skills of over 115,000 motorcyclists since its founding in 1987. The organization has 22 permanent training locations throughout Ohio and one mobile program, as well as a fleet of 450 training motorcycles, helmets and over 250 instructors. Motorcycle Ohio’s Basic Rider Course or “Riding and Street Skills” was first made available to the public in 1988, while the Experienced Rider Course was added in 1992. An Instructor Preparation Course is available for experienced motorcyclists interested in becoming a Motorcycle Ohio instructor.

The Basic Rider Course requires 16 hours of educational learning. Four hours will occur within a classroom at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center on Indian Wood Circle in Maumee. Classroom topics will include introduction to motorcycling, preparing to ride and street strategies. The final 12 hours will be held as part of practice riding sessions at Owens’ 250 feet by 500 feet defensive driving pad adjacent to the Fire Science and Law Enforcement Center in Perrysburg Township. The practice riding sessions will feature educational training within the areas of motorcycle familiarization, limited-space maneuvers, using the friction zone, negotiating curves, obstacles and lane changes, avoiding hazards and matching gears to speed, among other topics.

Attendees will be provided with motorcycles, helmets and a student workbook. Individuals must show proof of a Motorcycle Endorsement on their driver’s license or a valid Temporary Motorcycle permit in order to participate in the course.

In its first five years at Owens, the basic motorcycle-rider class has trained over 2,180 individuals during the spring, summer and fall months.

The cost to participate in the class is only $25. Space is limited to 12 riders per class. For additional information, contact the College’s Workforce and Community Services at (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357. Individuals can register online at www.motorcycle.ohio.gov ( http://www.motorcycle.ohio.gov/ ).

Wheelchair Football Game Brings Joy and Smiles to Owens Express and Toledo Crash Athletes

Posted on March 27th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The rare sight of touchdowns, kickoffs and tackles recently took center stage in Owens Community College’s Student Health and Activities Center as Express student-athletes traded their talents in volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and golf for the pigskin in a wheelchair football game against the Ability Center of Greater Toledo’s Toledo Crash. The visiting Toledo Crash ended up victorious 56-42 in a high-scoring contest between the two teams.

“First and foremost, I want to thank Owens Community College Athletics Director Rudy Yovich and the student-athletes for this opportunity,” said Jim Etzel, Toledo Crash Coach who also serves as an Ability Center of Greater Toledo Inclusion Specialist. “Events such as this football game against Owens show that people with disabilities are competitive and want to compete. We want to make society aware that people with disabilities have the same dreams and goals. What an exciting day. Our team had a lot fun.”

The Toledo Crash’s roster features residents from around the region, including Owens students Carrie Benore of Monroe, Mich. and Chris Clarke of Toledo.

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo is a Center for Independent Living serving Northwest Ohio. The organization was founded with the overall mission of assisting people with disabilities to live, work and socialize within a fully accessible community. Five core services provided by the Ability Center of Greater Toledo are information and referral, advocacy, independent living skills training, peer support and community living.

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Owens Students to Raise Homeless Awareness During Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City, April 4-5

Posted on March 26th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College students will spend a night under the stars to raise homeless awareness as part of the academic institution’s seventh annual Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City on Wednesday, April 4.

Beginning at 4 p.m., Owens students will spend 17 consecutive hours camping out on the College’s courtyard lawn outside the Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. The goal of the sleep out is to make more people aware of homelessness occurring in the surrounding communities and to collect non-perishable canned food items to benefit Cherry Street Mission Ministries in Toledo. The event will conclude at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 5.

“There are multiple reasons that a person can become homeless,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Activities Assistant. “The Owens Community College Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City project is intended to bring to the forefront this very serious issue, which does not discriminate and can happen to anyone at anytime.”

Owens students and employees and community members are encouraged to show their support by dropping off non-perishable canned food items. Donations can be dropped off on the College’s courtyard lawn outside the Student Health and Activities Center during the Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City event.

Additionally, Owens students will be putting their construction skills to the test as part of a cardboard box-building competition. The student project receiving first-place honors will have the collected non-perishable canned food items donated in their name to Cherry Street Mission Ministries.

Cherry Street Mission Ministries was founded in 1947 with the overall goal of providing help to those in need in the form of food and shelter. In addition to meeting people’s critical basic needs, the organization focuses on empowering people to break the bonds of homelessness and poverty and build new lives for themselves.

Owens’ Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City event is being coordinated by the College’s Office of Student Activities. For more information about the event, including donation information, call (567) 661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2569.

Owens Findlay-area Campus to Host Registration Rocks in April

Posted on March 26th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Area high school seniors are invited to learn about Owens Community College’s many educational opportunities during a fun, music-themed event as the College serves as host to Registration Rocks in April.

High school seniors can sign up for any day of Registration Rocks which runs from 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on the Findlay-area Campus. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay. Attendees are required to RSVP prior to the event. Registration Rocks dates include April 4, 9 and 12.

“Registration Rocks is a great opportunity for prospective students to receive academic advising, as well as register for summer and fall classes all in one fun-filled day,”said Stefanie Orians, Owens Admissions Representative. “Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus is excited to once again host an event where students can take the first step toward their career and educational aspirations.”

Throughout each day, students will be able to meet with an advisor, tour campus, complete the new student orientation and pick up important information about financial aid, clubs and student activities, local housing and academic program offerings.

In addition, a separate program on learning to support your children in college will be offered to parents who attend Registration Rocks. Attendees will also be provided with a free lunch during their visit.

For more information, or to register, call (567) 429-3656 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3656. Or, check out the Owens website at www.owens.edu/regrocks/ ( http://www.owens.edu/regrocks/ )and click on the Registration Rocks icon.

Owens Toledo-area Campus to Host Registration Rocks, April 2-5 and 9-12

Posted on March 23rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area high school seniors are invited to learn about Owens Community College’s many educational opportunities during a fun, music-themed event as the College serves as host to Registration Rocks in April.

High school seniors can sign up for any day of Registration Rocks which runs from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Attendees are required to RSVP prior to the event. Registration Rocks dates include April 2-5 and 9-12.

“Registration Rocks is a great opportunity for prospective students to receive academic advising, as well as register for summer and fall classes all in one fun-filled day,” said Kari Morgan, Owens Admissions Representative. “Owens Community College is excited to once again host an event where students can take the first step toward their career and educational aspirations.”

Throughout each day, students will be able to meet with an advisor, take placement testing, tour campus, complete the new student orientation and pick up important information about financial aid, clubs and student activities, local housing and academic program offerings.

All participating seniors will receive an Owens T-shirt. For more information, or to register, call (567) 661-7379 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7379. Or, check out the Owens website at www.owens.edu/regrocks/ ( http://www.owens.edu/regrocks/ )and click on the Registration Rocks icon.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Event Celebrates and Promotes Literacy

Posted on March 23rd, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Owens Community College recently celebrated and promoted the importance of literacy as over 100 area residents engaged in a variety of free activities during the first-ever Literacy Fair on the Findlay-area Campus.

Area children participated in several interactive events throughout the Literacy Fair, highlighted by creating their very own bookmarks, participating in coloring activities and attending “Read Aloud” sessions. The “Read Aloud” sessions were coordinated by Owens teacher education students in the family, communities and schools class and featured stories with the Dr. Suess theme.

Additionally, attendees had the chance to meet with several local community representatives and ask them questions about literacy outreach opportunities available through their organizations. A Scholastic Book Sale also took place in conjunction with the Literacy Fair. All proceeds from the book sale benefited the Hope House, the Owens Findlay-area Campus Early Learning Center and the Owens Findlay-area Campus Library.

The event was coordinated by the Owens Leadership Academy Team Horton.

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Lake Local Schools Honors Owens Community College With Community Service Award

Posted on March 22nd, 2012

Lake Local Schools and Owens Community College officials pose for a photo after the community service award ceremony and presentation at the College's Student Health and Activities Center.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Lake Local Schools recently honored Owens Community College for the academic institution’s overwhelming generosity shown to the school district in the aftermath of tornados that damaged or destroyed their educational facilities in June 2010. Owens officials were recognized during a Lake High School boys basketball game at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center.

Representatives from Owens were presented with Lake spirit clothing as well as a plaque that read following: “In recognition for the overwhelming generosity shown to the Lake Local School District in its time of need we present this plaque thanking all of you for your efforts during the rebuilding period of Lake High School. Words cannot begin to describe our appreciation and we will never be able to thank you enough. From the students, staff and community of Lake Schools, thank you Owens Community College for being great neighbors.”

In June 2010, Owens and Lake Local Schools entered into a new partnership that has provided the school district with a temporary home for Lake High School staff and students as a result of their educational facilities being damaged or destroyed by the tornados that devastated the Northwest Ohio region. Lake High School students in grades 9-12 have received their classroom instruction at the College’s Center for Development and Training building, which is located on Tracy Road in Northwood, during the last two school years.

Additional collaborative efforts included the Lake High School graduating class of 2010 being honored for achieving academic excellence and receiving their diplomas at Owens Community College as the academic institution served as host to Lake Local Schools’ commencement ceremony. The College’s Student Health and Activities Center also served as the home athletic venue for the Lake High School Flyers’ boys and girls basketball teams during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, among many other outreach efforts.

Owens Community College to Host Annual Lincoln Motorsports Welding Night, April 5

Posted on March 22nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s School of Technology, the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the American Welding Society and Lincoln Electric Motorsports are inviting area racing car and truck enthusiasts to the Toledo-area Campus to view an array of competition vehicles and learn more about careers within the welding and automotive industry at the sixteenth annual Lincoln Motorsports Welding Night on Thursday, April 5.

Lincoln Motorsports Welding Night will occur from 6-9 p.m. in the College’s Transportation Technologies Center. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to the event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

“Lincoln Motorsports Welding Night is a great opportunity for area residents to check out some of the latest advancements in competition racing as more than 30 owners from around the region showcase their vehicles,” said Jim Gilmore, Owens Chair of Diesel and Welding Technologies. “Attendees can also meet individuals from local businesses and ask advice in choosing a career within the welding or automotive industry.”

Vehicles featured at the event will include trucks, stock racing cars, drag racing cars and drag bikes, among others. In addition, a NHRA/IHRA vega drag car, an ARCA truck and a 305 Sprint car will be on display.

Karl Hoes of the Lincoln Electric Co. will serve as the guest speaker for this year’s event. In addition to his position as an Instructor for Lincoln Electric, Hoes is an accomplished Lincoln Motorsports Welder and performs welding on NASCAR, Nationwide, ARCA and IRL vehicles. Additionally, he is a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Wisconsin and involved heavily with the IRL and ARCA Truck series. Hoes will speak at 7 p.m. about various aspects of welding on competition vehicles.

Representatives from local businesses including Toledo Speedway, Norwalk Raceway Park and Attica Raceway Park will be in attendance to offer information. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to experience one of Lincoln Electric’s virtual welders and view welding demonstrations during the event.

Lincoln Motorsports Welding Night is co-sponsored by the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the American Welding Society and Lincoln Electric Motorsports. For additional information on the event, call (567) 661-7729 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7729.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Library Gallery Welcomes ‘Reading, Writing & Rithmetic’ Illustrations Exhibit, March 29 – April 20

Posted on March 22nd, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Owens Community College welcomes the return of the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum to the Findlay-area Campus with original illustrations from children’s books featuring reading, writing and arithmetic as the Library Gallery presents “Reading, Writing & Rithmetic: Illustrations from Children’s Alphabet and Counting Books”, March 29 – April 20.

The Owens Findlay-area Campus Library is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

“Owens Community College’s Findlay-area Campus is delighted to have the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum return to the Library Gallery,” said Gail McCain, Owens Library Manager for the Findlay-area Campus. “The Mazza Museum is committed to helping children develop an interest in reading and literacy, as well as in preserving original artwork from children’s literature. This exhibit showcases the work of some of the most well-known children’s illustrators of our time, which is sure to delight Gallery visitors of all ages.”

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum was founded in 1982 and is the world’s first and largest museum devoted to the art of children’s picture books. Since its inception, the museum has collected over 5,000 original pieces from children’s literature. The goal of the Mazza Museum is to promote literacy among children, as well as to collect, exhibit and preserve original artwork from children’s picture books.

Twenty children’s book illustrations are featured in the “Reading, Writing & Rithmetic” exhibit to include “On Market Street” by author Arnold Lobel and illustrator Anita Lobel, “Hullabaloo ABC” by author Beverly Cleary and illustrator Ted Rand, “The Icky Bug Counting Book” by author Jerry Pallotta and illustrator Ralph Masiello and “Pigs from A to Z” by author and illustrator Arthur Geisert.

The Findlay-area Campus “Reading, Writing & Rithmetic” exhibit is being presented in conjunction with the celebration of April as Month of the Young Child. In addition, the exhibit is designed to encourage children to take interest in literacy and libraries as the College recognizes National Library Week, April 8-14.

Owens Community College to Host Regional Job Fair, March 30

Posted on March 20th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area college and university graduates and students are invited to learn about and explore various employment opportunities available throughout the surrounding region as Owens Community College serves as host to the Collegiate Employ-Net Regional Job Fair on Friday, March 30.

Presented by Collegiate Employ-Net, a consortium of 18 colleges and universities in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, the regional job fair will occur from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to event is free and professional attire and a resume are required.

Throughout the event, individuals can meet with over 90 business and industry representatives about employment opportunities. In addition, attendees will be able to fill out applications for various employment opportunities. Individuals are also encouraged to bring several copies of their resume in preparation for any impromptu interviews.

Area employers in attendance will include Advance Staffing Solutions, Auto-Owners Insurance Co., Cedar Point, Cummins Bridgeway LLC, HCR ManorCare, Healing Arts Institute, Otterbein Portage Valley, Penske Truck Leasing, Piping Industry Training Center, Quicken Loans, Sherwin-Williams Co., The Home Depot, Ohio Highway Patrol, Toledo Zoo, Transportation Research Center Inc., Verizon Wireless and Wood Lane Residential Services Inc., among many others.

For more information, call (567) 661-7715 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7715.

Owens Community College Public Safety Offers Public Safety A.L.I.C.E. Training Classes in March and April

Posted on March 19th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Northwest Ohio public safety, business and school officials, as well as first responders, interested in receiving hands-on learning related to a proactive response to a violent attack on a large number of people are invited to participate in free A.L.I.C.E. Training Classes at Owens Community College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses .

The training classes will be offered and facilitated through Owens’ Department of Public Safety on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. Owens’ Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township, while the Findlay-area Campus is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

Owens’ Toledo-area Campus will offer A.L.I.C.E. training on Wednesday, March 28 from 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. each day at the Center for Emergency Preparedness. A.L.I.C.E. training on the Findlay-area Campus will occur on Wednesday, April 4 from 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Training sessions will take place in the Community Education and Wellness Center Room 111 on the Findlay-area Campus.

“Owens Community College is proud to offer an innovative training program which builds upon traditional response protocol for individuals in a hostile intruder scenario,” said John Betori, Owens Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police.“Seconds are crucial in a life-threatening situation and A.L.I.C.E. training provides strategies for victims to increase their odds of survival. I encourage area residents to take advantage of the free emergency preparedness seminars and the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, skills and preparation related to unforeseen emergency situations.”

A.L.I.C.E., which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate, is a rapid-response training program that is designed to educate organizations on how to proactively respond to a violent attack on a large number of people. The program was created by Response Options in Burleson, Texas, with the overall mission of reducing the likelihood of individuals involved in an active shooting becoming a casualty.

During the two-hour training sessions, Owens public safety staff will highlight various strategies and techniques which enhance the traditional response “lockdown” protocol for individuals in a hostile intruder scenario. Attendees will receive experiential training related to becoming better aware of potential threats within an organization, as well as strategies and techniques to counter, confound, confuse and defeat an active shooter. Such measures enable victims to take a proactive approach in a hostile situation and get inside an attacker’s decision cycle by confronting the individual through “organized chaos” tactics.

For more information, or to register for a training session, call (567) 661-7977 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7977.

Owens Express Women’s Soccer to Hold Open Tryouts, March 31

Posted on March 19th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Prospective high school graduates and area residents interested in playing intercollegiate soccer for Owens Community College’s Express women’s soccer program are invited to open tryouts on Saturday, March 31.

The open tryouts will take place from 1-3 p.m. at the College’s Soccer Complex on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Owens women’s soccer recently completed its first season as an intercollegiate program. Led by Head Coach Mary Whisler, the Express finished with a 12-8 overall record and in fourth place (5-5 record) in the NJCAA Region XII women’s soccer regular season standings. Owens lost to Schoolcraft College in the semifinals of the NJCAA Region XII Championships.

Prospective Owens Express student-athletes must be high school graduates. For more information on the open tryouts, call (567) 661-7935 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7935.

Owens Arrowhead Park Learning Center to Host Veteran Entrepreneurial Training Day, March 30

Posted on March 15th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area veterans and military members who are aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners are invited to expand their knowledge about starting or operating a business as the Owens Community College Arrowhead Park Learning Center serves as host to a free Veteran Entrepreneurial Training Day on Friday, March 30.

The event will take place from 7:30-11:45 a.m. at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center on 1724 Indian Wood Circle in Maumee. The event is free and open to the public.

Activities will commence at 8 a.m. with opening remarks by representatives from Owens Community College, the Ohio Small Business Development Center at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

A panel discussion will immediately follow the opening remarks and will focus on the various resources available to veteran-owned small businesses. The five individuals comprising the panel are Lisa Wood, Director, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers of Ohio; Bill Wersell, Director, Ohio Small Business Development Center at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce; Ed Ronders, Director, VetBizCentral Veterans Business Outreach Center; Jim Bayer, Chairman, SCORE, and David Wood, Director, Minority Business Assistance Center. U.S. Small Business Administration Veterans Business Officer John Renner will serve as the moderator.

In addition, four different breakout sessions will take place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 10:45-11:45 a.m. as part of the event. Presentation topics will include “Financing Your Business”, “Federal and State Certifications for Small and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses”, “Federal and State Government Contracting and Training through the Defense Acquisition University” and “Exporting Assistance for Your Business”.

Attendees will also have the chance to meet with national, state and local representatives and ask them questions about business-specific services and resources available through their organizations. Among the organizations expected in attendance include the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Centers of Ohio, SCORE, the Office of the Ohio Treasurer, VetBizOhio, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers of Ohio, Minority Business Assistance Center, U.S. Department of Commerce, Owens Community College, Veterans Service Commission and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The Veteran Entrepreneurial Training Day is being sponsored by VetBizOhio, U.S. Small Business Administration, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers of Ohio, Ohio Small Business Development Center at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Minority Business Assistance Center and Owens Community College.

Pre-registration is necessary. Individuals can register at www.vetbizohio.org. For additional information, call (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Express Student-Athletes to Host Football Game Against Ability Center’s Toledo Crash, March 24

Posted on March 15th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College student-athletes will trade their talents in volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and golf for the pigskin as the Express host the Ability Center of Greater Toledo’s Toledo Crash as part of a wheelchair football game on Saturday, March 24.

The game will begin at 1:30 p.m. and take place in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The event is free is free and open to the public.

“Owens Community College’s Athletics Department is excited to collaborate with the Ability Center of Greater Toledo to provide this opportunity for their participants and our student-athletes,” said Rudy Yovich, Owens Director of Athletics. “It is important that our student-athletes are engaged in community outreach as well as being leaders in the classroom and on the athletic playing field. They are really looking forward to the football game.”

Owens Community College Announces New Procurement Technical Assistance Center at Arrowhead Park Learning Center

Posted on March 15th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College has been selected by the Ohio Department of Development to serve as the new home for the Procurement Technical Assistance Center in the Northwest Ohio region. The new center will be located at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) of Ohio is part of a statewide network of counseling offices that are dedicated to providing free services and resources to businesses interested in selling their products and services to federal, state and local government agencies. The overall mission of the organization is to provide education, training and consultation to businesses throughout the region.

“Owens Community College is proud to collaborate with the Ohio Department of Development and expand our educational services and resources within the local business community through the new Procurement Technical Assistance Center,” said Dr. Michael Bankey, Owens Associate Vice President of Workforce and Community Services. “The Procurement Technical Assistance Center is committed to helping businesses succeed, which ultimately further enhances and supports our region’s economic growth and development.”

The program is part of a nationwide network of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers created by the U.S. Department of Defense. In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Development serves as host to the statewide program, which is supported by a number of community-based organizations serving local businesses.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Centers are located throughout Ohio and provide a variety of services, which include bid preparation assistance, bid-matching services, military specifications, one-on-training, product and procurement histories, help with information resources and trade events where Ohio firms can meet government buyers. Ohio businesses that are interested in expanding their product and service markets to local, state and federal governmental agencies are eligible for the program. All services are provided at no cost to Ohio businesses.

Owens’ Procurement Technical Assistance Center will provide service to 15 counties throughout Northwest Ohio, including Defiance, Fulton, Erie, Hancock, Huron, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, Wood and Van Wert counties.

For more information about the Procurement Technical Assistance Center’s services at the Owens Arrowhead Park Learning Center, call (567) 661-7717 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7717.

Owens Board of Trustees Names Dr. Mike Bower President

Posted on March 13th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Board of Trustees has concluded its presidential search and selected Dr. Mike Bower to serve as the academic institution’s new President.

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved Bower’s appointment as the sixth President in the 47-year history of Owens Community College during their board meeting. Both the Board of Trustees and Bower have agreed to a three-year contract. Bower will formally assume his new presidential responsibilities July 1.

“I am pleased to announce and proud to welcome Dr. Mike Bower as the new President of Owens Community College,” said Dee Talmage, Chair of the Owens Community College Board of Trustees. “Dr. Bower is highly respected among the higher education community nationwide and brings to Owens Community College and the Northwest Ohio region a strong background and extensive experience as an academic leader. Most of all, he leads with his core value of how can we best benefit the students. He is the right person to lead this academic institution and build on the College’s longstanding commitment to serving our students and the surrounding communities through excellence, innovation and collaboration.”

“I have been blessed with supporting people throughout my life to help others succeed,” said Bower. “When I researched Owens Community College for the presidential search, I could sense such support by viewing AQIP projects, the student newspaper, the Board of Trustees meeting minutes and other meeting documents. Owens Community College has dedicated teams that value student learning and I am very excited to be selected to serve these teams.”

Bower brings to Owens more than 17 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member and administrator in North Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Indiana. He also spent more than 19 years working in various leadership positions of business and industry with Ford Motor Co. and Thomson Consumer Electrics (formerly RCA) in Indiana and Ohio.

Since July 2008, Bower, age 62, has served as the President of Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D. Lake Region State College is a student-centered, open access, comprehensive community college within the North Dakota University System. The college is committed to providing quality academic education, vocational/technical training, workforce training, educational outreach opportunities and life-long learning with an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students.

Under his leadership, Lake Region State has expanded educational opportunities in a number of academic areas with the overall goal of enhancing student learning and community economic success, highlighted by securing state funding of $2.6 million for a 1.6 G.E. megawatt wind turbine to support the green initiative and provide current technology for the wind technician program. He also testified for appropriated dollars in the amount of $4.6 million for the technology center expansion and renovation for nursing, optimized agriculture, simulator electronics, automotive and wind programs. New innovative academic programs and hand-on learning resources unveiled within the last several years include wind energy technician, fitness trainer technician, nursing, American Sign Language and interpretive studies, and simulator technology.

Bower’s board-level professional and community involvement includes serving on the American Association of Community Colleges Economic/Workforce Commission, the American Association of Community Colleges Framework for Accountability, the North Dakota School for the Deaf Board, the Lake Region Forward Devils Lake (Economic Development) and the Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, among many others. He also serves as a Higher Learning Commission Peer Review Corps Consultant-Evaluator.

President Bower earned a doctorate in education administration, curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Devils Lake, N.D. resident holds a master of business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, a bachelor’s degree in industrial supervision from Indiana State University and an associate’s degree in automotive technology from Vincennes University.

Last year, the Board of Trustees announced that a national search for the new President of Owens Community College was underway to succeed Dr. Larry McDougle, who retired Sept. 30. John Satkowski, Vice President of Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer, has served as the College’s Interim President since the beginning of October. The presidential search process was led by Owens Board of Trustees Chair Dee Talmage, who served as Chair of the Presidential Search Committee.

Owens Community College to Host Diversity Day, March 21

Posted on March 13th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College will celebrate the importance of diversity from a national and global perspective as the academic institution serves as host to a series of free activities and events during Diversity Day on Wednesday, March 21.

Sponsored by KeyBank and the Owens Leadership Academy Team Pride, the event is titled “Celebrating Diversity National and Global” and will occur from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 125-128 on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. All events and activities are free and open to the public.

Activities will commence at 11 a.m. with a performance by the Ballet Folklorico Imagenes Mexicanas. The 25-member dance troupe is committed to promoting the appreciation, dedication and performance of Mexican folk dance. A community outreach initiative of the Perrysburg Heights Community Association, Ballet Folklorico Imagenes Mexicanas has entertained audiences nationwide, highlighted by an appearance at the White House. During the performance, attendees will also have the opportunity to sample an array of ethnic food from around the globe.

Owens’ Diversity Day will continue with Executive Director of Human Values for Transformative Action Dr. Lorna Gonsalves providing a lecture presentation titled “Coming to Terms with Racism” at 11:30 a.m. Her presentation topic will provide insight into what divides people as a society, as well as ways to recognize common humanity and the capacity to work across differences to build communities that value and respect one another. Owens theatre students will follow Gonsalves’ lecture with a poem enactment titled “Cold Within and Force Within”.

The second dance performance of the day will begin at 12 p.m. and feature nationally-regarded dance professionals Oluwadamilare Adeyeri and Shari Mocheit. Both performers have showcased their talents both locally and throughout the country and will share with attendees variations of the salsa dance.

In addition to the series of presentations and performances, individuals will have the opportunity to visit several international student displays and experience different cultures and nationalities, as well as meet with several local community organizations in attendance, including KeyBank, Perrysburg Heights Community Association and 10,000 Villages, among other groups. Diversity Day will also feature a hands-on art project and prize drawings.

Owens Leadership Academy Team Pride members responsible for the event’s coordination are Elisa Rodriguez, Ramadevi Kannan and Timothy Luc.

For additional information about Diversity Day, call (567) 661-7518 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7518.

Owens Findlay-area Campus to Host Literacy Fair, March 20

Posted on March 12th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Owens Community College will celebrate and promote the importance of literacy by inviting area residents to participate in several free activities as the Findlay-area Campus serves as host to a Literacy Fair on Tuesday, March 20.

Coordinated by the Owens Leadership Academy Team Horton, the Literacy Fair will take place from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the College’s Conference Center on the Findlay-area Campus. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay. Admission to the event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

“The purpose of the event is to educate students and the community about the importance of literacy and introduce them to an array of literacy resources available to children and adults in Hancock County and the surrounding area,” said James Katzner, Owens Manager of Student Activities and Conduct and Owens Leadership Academy Team Horton member.

In addition to Katzner, other Owens Leadership Academy Team Horton members include Amy Dixon, Assistant Chair of Nursing, and Maribeth Tercha, Manager of the Child Care Center.

Area children will have the opportunity to participate in several interactive events throughout the Literacy Fair, highlighted by creating their very own bookmarks, participating in coloring activities and attending “Read Aloud” sessions. The “Read Aloud” sessions are being coordinated by Owens teacher education students in the family, communities and schools class and will feature stories with the Dr. Suess theme. The reading events will occur at 9:30 a.m. (“The Sneetches”), at 10:30 a.m. (“The Hair Book”) and at 1 p.m. (“The Cat’s Quizzer”). In addition, a “Campus Read Aloud” will take place at 12 p.m. and feature Owens administrators reading “Horton Hears a Who!”. Prize drawings will also occur throughout the event.

Additionally, attendees will have the chance to meet with several local community representatives and ask them questions about literacy outreach opportunities available through their organizations. Area organizations in attendance will include Read for L.I.F.E., Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, the University of Findlay Mazza Museum, Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) and GED programs, Owens Findlay-area Campus Library, Owens Literacy Committee and a local literacy coalition, among other groups.

A Scholastic Book Sale will also take place on the College’s Findlay-area Campus in conjunction with the Literacy Fair from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Atrium on Tuesday, March 20. A wide selection of new children’s books will be available for purchase with the proceeds benefiting the Hope House, the Owens Findlay-area Campus Early Learning Center and the Owens Findlay-area Campus Library. The Scholastic Book Sale will also occur from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21.

For more information about the Literacy Fair, call (567) 429-3029 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3029.

Owens Community College Recognizes Employees For Excellence in Higher Education

Posted on March 12th, 2012

John Harwood

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Two Owens Community College employees have been chosen by their peers to receive the tenth annual Exemplary Employee Awards for outstanding dedication and service to higher education.

Recipients for the 2011-12 academic year are:

John Harwood of Metamora, Journeyman Maintenance Specialist (Exemplary Employee Award)
James Trumm of Ottawa Hills, Manager of Learning Support Services (Exemplary Administrator Award)

“Owens Community College employees are dedicated to helping students achieve success and realize their career goals,” said Lisa Dubose, Owens Interim Vice President of Human Resources. “These recipients are truly exemplary employees. Owens is able to fulfill its mission of strengthening the surrounding communities by providing excellence in higher education because of the vision, leadership and commitment exhibited on a daily basis by employees such as John and James. Both John and James are very deserving of this honor.”

The Exemplary Employee Awards program was established in 2003 and honors employees who make significant contributions to enhance the College’s mission of providing quality service and education over a period of time. Recipients are nominated and selected by their fellow Owens employees.

James Trumm

Selection criteria for the Exemplary Employee and Administrator awards are based upon an employee’s dedication to the College’s mission and vision, as demonstrated by their commitment to the College’s core values of service, learning, innovation, collaboration and excellence.

Owens Express Softball Opens Home Season Against Defiance College JVs, March 19

Posted on March 9th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College women’s softball will open its 2012 home season against Defiance College JVs on Monday, March 19. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m.

All home games will be played at the College’s Softball Complex on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to all home games is free.

The Owens softball program is guided by ninth-year Head Coach Duane Lanham. His Assistant Coaches are Kevin Snyder and Sara Fleming.

Express women’s softball completed the 2011 season with a 44-5 overall record and captured its tenth OCCAC (6-2 record) title in the program’s history. Owens was ranked No. 8 in the final NJCAA Division II women’s softball regular season poll.

The women’s softball team also advanced to its second NJCAA Division II National Championship tournament where they finished second among 16 participating intercollegiate teams. Owens lost to Louisiana State University-Eunice 10-0 in the NJCAA Division II National Championship game. The Express is the first women’s intercollegiate athletic program in school history to advance to the national championship game.

Early in the 2012 season, Owens has compiled a 7-0 overall record following games played in South Carolina.

“I am pleased with the early season success of this ballclub,” said Lanham. “The team has really put forth a lot of hard work and effort. Our goal is to improve each and every day and compete. We have a great group veterans and incoming freshmen that want to build on last year’s success. I expect our team to compete for another conference title and play well in the postseason.”

Owens has eight players returning from last year’s team, including Allison Hausch of Bryan (Bryan H.S.), Ashlyn Michalak of Temperance, Mich. (Springfield H.S.) and Michelle Hollister of Newport, Mich. (Airport H.S.).

In 2011, Hausch, a sophomore catcher, was named to the NJCAA All-Region XII Tournament Team. She collected 30 hits, scored 14 runs, had 21 RBIs and compiled a .448 batting average. Michalak is a sophomore pitcher and earned OCCAC Academic All-Conference honors last season. She posted an 11-1 record with a 2.59 earned run average and one save for the Express. Last year, Hollister, a sophomore shortstop and second baseman, collected 42 hits, 27 runs, 39 RBIs and 15 doubles as well as a .378 batting average. Her postseason honors included OCCAC Academic All-Conference selection.

Lanham’s squad also returns Taylor Redinger of Fremont (Fremont Ross H.S.) and Kasey Graham of Oregon (Clay H.S.). Redinger, a sophomore catcher, scored 11 runs, had 12 RBIs and compiled a .364 batting average. Graham is a sophomore pitcher. She compiled a 5-0 record with a 2.94 earned run average and one save last year. In addition, Graham was named OCCAC Academic All-Conference.

Returning sophomore student-athletes to the Owens team also include Sydney Barron of Monroe, Mich., first base/third base (Jefferson H.S.); Tabitha Britt of Maumee, outfield (Maumee H.S.), and Hallie Thompson of Oregon, second base/shortstop (Clay H.S.).

Express first-year players to the women’s softball program are Mareshah Scott of Maumee, outfield (Maumee H.S.); Olivia Reeder of Martin, catcher (Genoa H.S.); Amanda Sinay of Oregon, outfield (Cardinal Stritch H.S.); Alyssa Lassey of Ida, Mich., infield (Ida H.S.); April DeCant of Delta, second base (Liberty Center H.S.); Hannah Shank of Van Buren, infield/outfield (North Baltimore H.S.); Katie Butler of Maumee, first base (Maumee H.S.); Leona Euler of North Baltimore, pitcher (North Baltimore H.S.); Katlyn Whitmarsh of Monroe, Mich., outfield (Monroe H.S.); Jaylee Glad of Temperance, Mich., outfield (Ida H.S.); Hannah Morrison of Curtice, third base (Genoa H.S.); Melanie Iacoangeli of Monroe, Mich., outfield (Ida H.S.); Kendra Craig of Deerfield, Mich., outfield/catcher (Summerfield H.S.); Lexi Sheets of Carrollton, pitcher (Carrollton H.S.), and Aja Hall of Fostoria, third base (Fostoria H.S.).

Owens Community College Unveils New Career Closet Program, March 15

Posted on March 8th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College is reaching out to its students who are preparing to enter the workforce by announcing the establishment of the academic institution’s first Career Closet initiative on the Toledo-area Campus. The new Career Closet is designed to provide students with career advice and resource as well as free professional and business casual attire appropriate for job fairs, job interviews and the workplace.

Coordinated by the Owens Leadership Academy team Explorers, the new Career Closet will be available to students for the first time as part of an open house event from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 15. The new Career Closet is located within the College’s new Owens Harvest Food Pantry in Heritage Hall Room 109 on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township. The open house is free and open to the public.

“Owens Community College is proud to announce the new Owens Career Closet outreach program for our students,” said Anne Fulkerson, Owens Enrollment and Retention Research Associate and Owens Leadership Academy Explorers team member. “The initiative is intended to help Owens students look their best and have the confidence they need to make a lasting positive impression and be successful as they begin their professional careers.”

Fulkerson added, “Similar to the Owens Harvest Food Pantries initiative, the new Owens Career Closet provides an outlet for Owens employees and community members to give back to those students in need through professional clothing attire donation efforts. The new Owens Career Closet will continuously be accepting men’s and women’s professional attire.”

In addition to Fulkerson, other Owens Leadership Academy Explores team members include Lorena Baird and David Halsey.

Following the open house, the Owens Career Closet will be open to all Owens students on Tuesdays in conjunction with the Owens Harvest Food Pantry from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Toledo-area Campus. The Owens Career Closet features suits, jackets/blazers, professional shirts/blouses/sweaters, slacks, skirts, professional dresses, ties, belts, briefcases, portfolios, purses and shoes, among other attire. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to pick up an array of career-specific resources courtesy of the College’s Office of Career Services. Students will need to show valid Owens identification to utilize the services.

Earlier this year, Owens, with the support of the Toledo Seagate Food Bank, announced plans for the academic institution’s first Owens Harvest Food Pantries on the College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The new Owens Harvest Food Pantries are designed to provide students with free non-perishable food resources as well as various service learning opportunities.

In addition to providing donations to the students, Owens’ Harvest Food Pantries are designed to build upon the College’s culture of philanthropy and service on the campuses by creating new collaborative learning opportunities for students in various academic departments and disciplines. The two Owens Harvest Food Pantries feature a healthy nutritional balance of non-perishable food items such as proteins, starches, fruits and vegetables.

For those individuals and/or community organizations interested in donating to the new Owens Career Closet initiative, call (567) 661-2275 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2275.

Owens Express Baseball Opens Home Season Against Ashland University JVs, March 14

Posted on March 7th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College men’s baseball will open its 2012 home season against Ashland University JVs on Wednesday, March 14. The game will begin at 3 p.m.

All home games will be played at the College’s Baseball Complex on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to all home games is free.

Owens men’s baseball program finished the 2011 season with a 25-13 overall record and in second place in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (9-5 record). The Express lost to Vincennes University in the NJCAA Sub-Region XII Baseball Championships.

Early in the 2012 season, Owens has a compiled a 0-6 overall record following games played in North Carolina and South Carolina. The Owens baseball program is led by Head Coach Del Young. His Assistant Coaches are John Parisho and Scott Tesluck.

“I am very optimistic about the season,” said Young. “We have a great group of veteran returners from last year’s team and a very talented incoming class of first-year student-athletes. Our strengths will be putting the ball in play as well as being aggressive on the base paths. We also have depth on the mound, both in our starting and relief pitchers. Our schedule will be challenging as we face some of the best teams in the country. However, that does change our expectations of competing for a conference title.”

The Express has 10 players returning from last year’s team, including Joe Sickler of Bowling Green (Bowling Green H.S.), Ryan Hotmer of Walbridge (Lake H.S.) and Zak Esposito of Sandusky (Sandusky H.S.).

In 2011, Sickler, a sophomore infielder, earned First Team OCCAC All-Conference and NJCAA All-Region XII honors and was named the recipient of the team’s Co-Outstanding Offensive Award. He collected 33 hits and 20 RBIs and compiled a .377 batting average. Hotmer, a sophomore first baseman and pitcher, collected 33 hits, three home runs and compiled a .379 batting average. On the mound, he posted a 2-0 record with a 1.98 earned run average. Hotmer also was named First Team OCCAC All-Conference. Esposito is a sophomore pitcher and was named the recipient of the team’s Outstanding Pitching Award. In 2011, he posted a 3-1 record with a 5.67 earned run average.

Owens baseball also returns Jeff Davis of Toledo (St. Francis de Sales H.S.), Andrew Joseph of Sylvania (Sylvania Southview H.S.) and Jordan Basinger of Kalida (Kalida H.S.). Davis, a sophomore pitcher, went 1-1 with a 2.75 earned run average last season. In 2011, Joseph, a sophomore pitcher, posted a 4-2 record and a 4.18 earned run average. Basinger is a sophomore pitcher and went 4-2 with a 5.64 earned run average last year for Owens.

In addition, Express returning players include Michael Louis of Parma, outfield/catcher (Normandy H.S.); Daniel Heatherly of Trenton, Mich., infield/pitcher (Trenton H.S.); James Moore Jr. of Farmington Hills, Mich., infield (Southfield-Lathrup H.S.), and Travis Tackett of Vevay, Ind., catcher/first base (Switzerland County H.S.).

First-year players to the Express men’s baseball program are Logan Shullick of Norwalk, infield/outfield (Norwalk H.S.); Ryan Horvath of Madison Heights, Mich., infield (Lamphere H.S.); Nate Manis of Port Huron, Mich., infield/outfield (Port Huron Northern H.S.); Trevor Ozenbaugh of Elwood, Ind., outfield/pitcher (Elwood H.S.); Nick Collins of Chicago, Ill., infield (Rich Central H.S.); Justin Elder of Trenton, outfield (Edgewood H.S.); Dane Davis of Romeo, Mich., pitcher (Romeo H.S.); Jesse Castilleja of Oregon, pitcher (Clay H.S.); Austin Legate of Strongsville, catcher/third base (Strongsville H.S.); Alex Juday of Elwood, Ind., pitcher (Elwood H.S.); Adam Jones of Columbus, Ind., pitcher (Columbus North H.S.); Clayton Ruch of Pemberville, pitcher/outfield (Eastwood H.S.); Sean Koerber of Harper Woods, Mich., pitcher (Grosse Pointe North H.S.); Myles Debol of Saline, Mich., pitcher/infield (Saline H.S.); Chris Ward of Brunswick, pitcher (Brunswick H.S.); Aaron Peoples of Perth, Australia, pitcher (John Septimus Roe Anglican C.S.); Garrett Scott of Genoa, pitcher (Genoa H.S.), and Jose Leal of Fremont, pitcher/outfield (Clyde H.S.).

Owens Express Golf Opens Season at Indiana Tech Invite, March 26-27

Posted on March 6th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College golf will make its 2012 season debut at the Indiana Tech Invitational, March 26-27. The non-conference invitational will take place at the Donald Ross Course in French Lick, Ind.

Owens’ home intercollegiate golf events will occur at Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg and admission to all Express golf events is free and open to the public.

Owens’ golf program is guided by sixth-year Head Coach Gil Guerrero. The Express golf team captured one match and invitational title during the 2011 season, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Championship Invitational. The program also finished third in the NJCAA Region XII Sub-Regional Championship after rounds of 329-309 (638) at Belmont Country Club. Additionally, Owens placed eighth in the NJCAA Region XII Golf Championship.

“I am really looking forward to the start of the upcoming spring season,” stated Guerrero. “We have a good group of student-athletes who believe in each other and are committed to putting forth the effort that is needed to be a championship-caliber team.”

The golf program has three players returning from last year’s team, including Kyle Simmons of Millbury (Genoa H.S.), Brian Brumenshenkel of Maumee (Anthony Wayne H.S.) and Greg Hermes of Maumee (Maumee H.S.).

In 2011, Simmons, a sophomore, earned Second Team OCCAC All-Conference honors and received the team’s Best Newcomer Award. He compiled an 80.6 scoring average. Brumenshenkel and Hermes are both sophomores and compiled 83.4 and 81 scoring averages, respectively.

First-year players to the Express golf program are Luke Berger of Temperance, Mich. (Bedford H.S.), Tyler Crossley of London (Jonathan Alder H.S.), Walter Dorosh of Pinckney, Mich. (Pinckney H.S.), Darren Gessner of Okolona (Napoleon H.S.), Conor Totzke of Liberty Center (Liberty Center H.S.) and Cleo Trumbull of Waterville (Anthony Wayne H.S.).

Owens Community College Presents ‘Stuart Little’ Performance, March 18

Posted on March 6th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Community members of all ages are invited to join the bilingual adventures of “Stuart Little” as Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts presents the theatrical version of a timeless favorite in both spoken English and American Sign Language on Sunday, March 18.

The performance will take place in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts’ Mainstage Theatre at 3 p.m. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to once again welcome Sign Stage on Tour to Northwest Ohio and their unique version of the classical tale ‘Stuart Little’ on stage,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Director for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “The production is sure to please attendees of all ages as Sign Stage on Tour affords individuals the opportunity to experience theatre in American Sign Language and spoken English.”

“Stuart Little” is presented by the national touring group Sign Stage on Tour through Windwood Productions, a theatrical company comprised of deaf and hearing stage specialists. Sign Stage on Tour, which performs an array of theatrical plays worldwide in both spoken English and American Sign Language, is dedicated to presenting educational programs that integrate bilingual education with theatre. Previous performances by the theatre group include “Dr. Dolittle”, “Treasure Island”, “Matilda” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.

According to Barkan, “When a character speaks on stage it occurs in American Sign Language, however, a spoken voice will be heard at the same time. The blend of languages allows individuals to experience the spatial beauty of American Sign Language as the actors move their hands and bodies, as well as hear the spoken dialogue so that audience members, both deaf and hearing, are able to fully enjoy the adventurous tale of Stuart and his life as a mouse in New York City.”

The troupe has performed in numerous venues and festivals worldwide highlighted by appearances at DeafWay II in Washington, D.C., the Eighth International Pantomime Festival of the Deaf in Brno, Czechoslovakia, and the Jerash Festival in Amman, Jordan.

“Stuart Little” tells the story of Stuart, a mouse who lives in New York City. Stuart believes that size is not important and enjoys living among humans in a world that includes daily adventures, highlighted by rescuing his friend Margalo, a bird, from the pursuit of Snowbell, a house cat. The adaptation of the Sign Stage on Tour’s theatrical production is based on the book by internationally recognized author E. B. White.

Tickets for “Stuart Little” are $12. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu ( https://www.owens.edu/ )or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Express Women’s Basketball to Host NJCAA District I Regional Tournament, March 9-10

Posted on March 5th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Owens Community College women’s basketball team begins its postseason run toward a national title as the Express compete in and host the NJCAA Region XII (District I) Women’s Basketball Championship, March 9-10.

The semifinals and finals of the tournament will occur at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center, March 9-10. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Led by Head Coach Michael Llanas, the Express will take a 25-5 overall record into the single elimination tournament where they will battle Sinclair Community College (16-11) in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The first semifinal game will feature Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (29-1) against Edison State Community College (17-10) at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The championship game will occur at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

Owens also finished in second place in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (10-2 record). The Express is ranked No. 7 in the most recent NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball poll.

The NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship will take place March 20-24 in East Peoria, Ill.

Tickets for the NJCAA Region XII Women’s Basketball Championships are $5 per person. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, call (567) 661-7973 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7973.

Owens Express Men’s Basketball to Host NJCAA District 10 Regional Tournament, March 9-10

Posted on March 5th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Owens Community College men’s basketball team begins its postseason run toward a third national title as the Express compete in and host the NJCAA Region XII (District 10) Men’s Basketball Championship, March 9-10.

The semifinals and finals of the tournament will occur at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center, March 9-10. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Coached by David Clarke, the Express will take a 22-8 overall record into the single elimination tournament where they will battle Cuyahoga Community College (19-8) in the semifinals at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The first semifinal game will feature Columbus State Community College (25-4) against Lakeland Community College (23-7) at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The championship game will occur at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

In addition, Clarke’s team finished in second place in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (9-3 record).

The NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship will be held March 20-24 in Danville, Ill.

Owens Concert Band to Host Winter Pops Concert, March 4

Posted on March 1st, 2012

Musical selections presented by the Owens Concert Band, which is comprised of Owens students and employees and community members, will include “Repasz Band March”, “An American Spectacular”, “Flight of the Bumblebee”, “Tijuana Brass in Concert”, “Trombone Blues”, “Latin Celebration”, “The Lion King”, “Gypsy Caravan”, “Broadway Center Stage” and “A Scottish Portrait”, among others.

Additionally, Owens Community College Interim President John Satkowski will serve as celebrity conductor for the “Washington Post March” musical selection to conclude the concert performance.

For more information about the Winter Pops Concert, contact the College’s Fine and Performing Arts Department at (567) 661-7081 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7081.

Owens Community College Students Lend Helping Hand to High School Students With Second Annual Prom Dress Drive, March 5-31

Posted on March 1st, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College students are reaching out to high school girls to ensure that they are able to receive a special high school prom experience by hosting the second annual Prom Dress Drive, March 5-31.

The Prom Dress Drive is being coordinated by the College’s Raising Awareness Club. Beginning Monday, March 5, Owens students will accept various gently used prom-specific items, including dresses, shoes, purses, gloves and jewelry, among other prom accessories. The donation drive will run through March 31.

“Last year’s Prom Dress Drive was a huge success as the Raising Awareness Club was able to assist many high school students in making their prom a special experience,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Activities Assistant and Raising Awareness Club Advisor. “We really want to make sure the prom is a memorable day for high school students this year and are encouraging the local communities to give back by donating to the Prom Dress Drive.”

Following the Prom Dress Drive initiative, the Raising Awareness Club will host the Prom Dress Extravaganza for high school students and their families on Saturday, April 14. During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase prom dresses and accessories for minimal cost ranging from $5-20 for dresses and 50 cents to $5 for accessories. Shopping mentors will be on hand to assist individuals in their shopping experience. Additionally, Owens students will provide prom dress alterations free of charge during the event. Owens’ Prom Dress Extravaganza will take place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center.

All prom donations can be dropped off in the Office of Student Activities Room 165 at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

For more information, or to make a donation, call (567) 661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2569.

Local Schools Showcase Talents at Owens Tractor Troubleshooting Contest

Posted on February 29th, 2012

Elmwood High School students (L to R) Casey Heller of Bloomdale and Jon Shinew of Rudolph test their repair skills at Owens' annual tractor troubleshooting contest.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Eleven area high schools put their knowledge of tractors to the test Friday during competition in the 19th annual FFA District I Agricultural and Industrial Diagnostics Contest at Owens Community College.

Presented by the College’s Transportation Technologies, the contest involved high school teams, consisting of two students, completing various testing to determine their expertise of tractors. As part of the practical skills competition, teams were required to locate, identify and repair a malfunction on a specified tractor donated for the event.

A panel of 10 judges, comprising industry representatives and Owens Transportation Technologies faculty, graded each high school in the areas of workmanship as a team, safety practices, problem-solving techniques and identification, and repair of malfunctions to determine a district champion. Additionally, students within the College’s Transportation Technologies assisted with the competition.

“I am very proud of the area high school teams and the effort that they put forth during this year’s competition,” said Nick Shultz, Owens Instructor of Transportation Technologies and event coordinator. “The Agricultural and Industrial Diagnostic Contest is extremely challenging and provides students with the opportunity to showcase their level of knowledge and expertise at the highest level in a realistic setting. On behalf of Owens Community College, I would like to thank the various community partners who assisted in making this event a reality for the participating students.”

The district championship went to Matt Haar and Hunter Haar, both of Elmore, from Woodmore High School, with a score of 254. They were accompanied by their teacher, Adam Downs.

Students from two career centers tied for second with scores of 232: Four County’s Quintin Keefer and Nathan Seiler, both of Fayette; accompanied by their teacher, Larry Wieland; and Penta’s Bryan Schaller of Perrysburg and Shane Streib of Whitehouse, accompanied by their teacher, Steve Schumm.

Other students and high schools involved in the competition and their order of finish were: Pettisville’s Dexter Aeshleman and Nathan Betz, both of Wauseon; accompanied by their teacher, John Poulson, fourth place; Elmwood’s Casey Heller of Bloomdale and Jon Shinew of Rudolph, accompanied by teacher Ed Feasel, fifth place; Bowling Green’s Henry Apple and Thomas Foos, both of Bowling Green; accompanied by their teacher, Mike Shertzer, sixth place; Eastwood’s Bryan Cafka and Adam Wolf, both of Luckey; accompanied by their teacher, David Little, seventh place; Otsego’s Bill Potter and Poke Harrison, both of Grand Rapids; accompanied by their teacher, Debbie Ayers, eighth place; Genoa’s Michael Clark and Trevor McLear, both of Genoa; accompanied by their teacher, David Stacklin, ninth place; and Ayersville’s Kody Shreve and Gage Odom, both of Ayersville, accompanied by their teacher, Don Hammersmith, 10th place.

Delta’s Nathan Brehm and Scott McDonnall, both of Delta, also competed in the contest, but did not complete all the rounds. They were accompanied by their teacher, Randy Crowl.

Local businesses donating tractors for the competition were Streacker Tractor Sales, Crosby Equipment, Eagle Machinery Inc., Caterpillar Inc., John Deere and Owens Community College.

Owens’ Diesel Technology program offers students the opportunity to pursue either an associate degree or a certificate while preparing them for careers in operations, maintenance, service, testing, diagnosis and development of truck and heavy equipment. Students interested in a career as a professional agricultural equipment service technician can pursue an associate degree through the College’s John Deere Agricultural Technician program. Owens is one of 25 academic institutions in North America, and the only school in Ohio, to offer the John Deere Agricultural Technician program.

Owens Community College Offers Spring ACT Preparation Class, March 19 – April 9

Posted on February 28th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents preparing to take the national ACT test are encouraged to bring a pencil, paper and a calculator to Owens Community College as the academic institution offers a program titled “Building Confidence with ACT Prep” in March and April. The class is coordinated through the College’s Workforce and Community Services.

The ACT preparation class will occur Monday evenings, March 19 – April 9, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center on Indian Wood Circle in Maumee.

During each of the four sessions, students will be tutored in all five sections of the ACT test. The actual ACT is comprised of one test in each of the following areas: English, math, reading, science reasoning and writing. In addition to being tutored in these areas through one-on-one teaching, students will learn traditional testing strategies such as how to take a timed test and how to find the elusive answer to a difficult question.

In addition to offering the ACT preparation class, Owens serves as a host site for the national ACT test. The next testing date after the ACT preparation class is April 14. Prior registration through the ACT organization is required.

Limited seating is available and early registration is recommended. For more information, or to register for the class, call (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.

Owens Community College Welcomes Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Tribute Band, March 2

Posted on February 23rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Timeless sounds from the legendary musical group Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young will fill the air at Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts as the tribute band Marrakesh Express takes the stage on Friday, March 2. The Marrakesh Express tribute band will perform in the College’s Mainstage Theatre at 8 p.m. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.
“Owens Community College is proud to welcome Marrakesh Express, widely regarded as one of the leading Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tribute bands, to Northwest Ohio,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Director for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “Attendees will be captivated by the group’s authentic four-part harmonious sound that brings to life the iconic group at the height of their stardom in the late 1960s.”

Marrakesh Express is known nationwide for its ability to bring to life the musical sound of the legendary group Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Featuring four harmonizing vocalists and an accompanying band, Marrakesh Express performs an array of musical selections that topped the charts during the 1960s and beyond. Among the songs performed by the group are “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, “Ohio”, “Teach Your Children”, “Our House”, “Love the One You’re With” and “Marrakesh Express”.
The tribute group has showcased their musical talents and performed at venues nationwide, including at the Woodstock 40th Anniversary Tribute Concert in 2009.

Tickets for the Marrakesh Express concert are $26. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Community College Toledo-area Campus to Host Northwest Ohio’s Largest College Preview Night, March 7

Posted on February 23rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – More than 100 public and private colleges and universities from Ohio and the surrounding states will visit the Toledo area as Owens Community College serves as host to Northwest Ohio’s largest College Preview Night on Wednesday, March 7.

Established in 1987, the event will occur from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the counseling staffs of 21 local high schools and Owens. College tables will be set up in Owens’ Student Health and Activities Center and presentations will be held in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts and the Audio/Visual Classroom Center. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to College Preview Night is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

“College Preview Night is a great chance for high school students and their parents, as well as adult students, to visit with admissions representatives and learn about the various educational opportunities available at colleges and universities throughout the surrounding region,” said Kari Morgan, Owens Admissions Representative. “Owens Community College is proud to once again work with area high schools in sponsoring an event that will aid students in choosing their career path.”

The event will provide prospective students the opportunity to visit with various college and university representatives and pick up important information about admission requirements. Individuals will also learn about financial aid, student activities, academic program offerings, athletic eligibility and accommodations for students with special needs.

Informational sessions will also occur throughout the evening. Attendees can hear presentations on financial aid, online financial aid resources, planning for college, preparing for the ACT test, preparing to transfer from one academic institution to another and admission to military academies and the ROTC.

In addition, representatives from local financial institutions will be present to provide information on student loans and high school counselors will be available during the event to answer general college questions. Representatives of the various military branches will also be on hand to discuss admission to military academies, the ROTC and other scholarship-related programs.

For more information about College Preview Night, call (567) 661-7777 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7777.

Owens Community College Names New Vice President of Human Resources

Posted on February 22nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College has named F. Jack Witt III as the new Vice President of Human Resources. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects related to the administrative leadership, coordination and development of initiatives within the academic institution’s Office of Human Resources.

In addition, his new position will entail providing leadership and oversight in labor and employee relations, employment, compensation, benefits, EEO/employee relations, training, progression and succession, quality/planning facilitation, and diversity and inclusion, among other areas.

“Owens Community College is proud to welcome Jack Witt as new Vice President of Human Resources,” said John Satkowski, Interim President of Owens Community College. “Jack brings a visionary approach and extensive knowledge and experience in labor relations, employment law and human resources to the College, gained from his prior positions in higher education, government and at several major corporations. We look forward to his leadership in advancing the level of excellence within the academic institution’s area of human resources.”

Since 2009, Witt has served as the Vice President of Human Resources at Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich. In his position, he served as a senior level executive responsible for the overall leadership of human resources and labor relations for the multi-campus educational organization with over 2,200 faculty and staff employees. His responsibilities also included the review and implementation of policies and procedures concerning recruitment, selection and placement, training and development, organization re-design, and talent/succession practices. Additionally, Witt oversaw the design and administration of job analysis/classification, compensation, human resource information and benefits programs, including health and welfare, and retirement/savings plans.

Under his leadership at Macomb, Witt oversaw the negotiation and drafting of collective bargaining agreements covering nine bargaining units and 2,000 employees, as well as the coordination of labor contract administration, including arbitrations and grievance management.

Previously, Witt held the position of Director of Human Resources for Genesee County from 2005-09 where he provided leadership and oversight of human resource and labor law functions for the government and public service operations of the Michigan county, involving over 2,500 employees. Witt also spent over 25 years working in labor relations, employment law and human resources at several major corporations, including A&P Co., Kmart Corp., Macy’s Inc. and Ford Motor Co. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Wayne State University School of Business Administration.

The Troy, Mich. resident earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Tulane University and a master’s degree in political science and public administration from Kent State University. Witt also holds a juris doctorate and a master of business administration from Case Western Reserve University. He is admitted to the Ohio Bar, holds a certificate in benefits and compensation management from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans, and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources by the International Public Management Association for Human Resources.

Owens Community College Closed for Mid-Semester Break, March 2-4

Posted on February 22nd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, as well as the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee and the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo, will be closed Friday-Sunday, March 2-4 for Mid-Semester Break. There will be no classes and the College offices will be closed for business.

Administrative offices will be open again on Monday, March 5, while classes will resume on Monday, March 12.

Owens Findlay-area Campus to Host Greater Hancock County College Night, March 5

Posted on February 22nd, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – More than 80 colleges and universities from Ohio and the surrounding states will visit the Findlay area as the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus serves as host to Greater Hancock County College Night on Monday, March 5. The event will occur from 6:30-8 p.m.

The counseling staffs of nine local high schools in the surrounding area are co-sponsoring the annual event, which is being held at the Owens Findlay-area Campus Community Education and Wellness Center. The College is located on Bright Road in Findlay. Admission to the college preview night is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

“Greater Hancock County College Night is a great opportunity for prospective college students to visit with admissions representatives and learn about the various educational choices available throughout the surrounding region,” said Stefanie Orians, Owens Admissions Representative on the Findlay-area Campus and Greater Hancock County College Night event coordinator. “Owens Community College is proud to once again work with area high schools in sponsoring an event where students can begin to choose their career path.”

The event will provide high school students and their parents, as well as adult students, the opportunity to visit with various college and university representatives and pick up important information about admission requirements. Individuals will also learn about financial aid, student activities, academic program offerings and accommodations for students with special needs.

Informational sessions will occur throughout the evening. Attendees can hear presentations on financial aid, planning for college, preparing for the ACT test and career trends of the future.

For more information on Greater Hancock County College Night, contact the Owens Findlay-area Campus at (567) 429-3656 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3656.

Owens Community College Express Launches New Athletics Website

Posted on February 21st, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College Express has a new online destination for individuals interested in gaining insight into the daily news about the academic institution’s eight intercollegiate athletic programs as the Athletics Office unveils www.owensexpress.com ( http://www.owensexpress.com/ ).

The new website, which is branded with the Owens Express “E” logo in the masthead and athletic red and white colors throughout, is designed to bring fans closer to the Express winning tradition and their favorite student-athletes and coaches of all eight Express teams. The new online location will feature live game scores, player features, post-game stories, up-to-date season statistics and photo galleries. All the athletic media guides will be posted on the site as well, and links to the Owens Express social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The new website also includes a user-friendly mobile site for fans on-the-go. A text-only version of the website will launch in March.

The website construction was a four-month collaborative process, headed by Owens Athletic Director Rudy Yovich, in partnership with PrestoSports of Rockville, Md.

“It today’s era of instant information, we felt it was important to provide our fans with the most current information possible regarding Owens Express athletics,” Yovich said. “Owens Community College has a great story to tell and this is just another way to communicate that message.”

The NJCAA, which oversees two-year college sports in the U.S., and PrestoSports signed a six-year contract in January for PrestoSports to upgrade and maintain the NJCAA’s national statistics database.

“We have one of the finest community college athletic departments in the country, with our coaches, support staff, facilities and success in the classroom and in competition,” Yovich said. “The new website will only add to our ability to recruit quality student-athletes to Owens Community College.”

PrestoSports, Inc. started in 2003 and helps sports teams communicate online with their fans, opponents and media outlets. The company develops technologies that facilitate the sharing of information on top of the PrestoSports Network, the digital mapping of teams’ real-world connections. Millions of fans follow their favorite teams on sites powered by PrestoSports. For more information, visit www.prestosports.com ( http://www.prestosports.com/ ).

Owens Student Leaders Inducted Into Kappa Beta Delta International Honor Society

Posted on February 20th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College students were recently honored for their academic accomplishments in business, earning membership into the Kappa Beta Delta International Honor Society.

Kappa Beta Delta was established in 1997 as an international honor society exclusively for Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accredited two-year business programs.

Standing for excellence, trustworthiness and genuineness, the overall mission of Kappa Beta Delta is to encourage and recognize scholarship and accomplishment among students of business, management and administration at two-year academic institutions. Additionally, the international honor society promotes student aspirations toward personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind.

“Owens Community College is extremely proud of our inductees for their excellence in higher education business programs,” said Barb DiNardo, Owens Professor of Business Technology and Kappa Beta Delta Advisor. “Induction to Kappa Beta Delta is considered a lifetime honor and quite an achievement within the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs.”

Selection criterion for students into Kappa Beta Delta is based upon completing a minimum of 15 semester hours of credit and achieving a minimum 3.5 grade point average, among other areas.

The Kappa Beta Delta International Honor Society student inductees for the Fall Semester are Terry Burkhead of Toledo (business), Kimberly Craig of Two Harbors, Minn. (accounting), Melissa Diebert of Genoa (pre-business administration), Rita Dipman of Clay Center (information systems), Charity Goehring of Perrysburg (accounting), John Hermiller of Findlay (operations management), John Hubbard of Perrysburg (office administration), Michele Janz of Whitehouse (medical office support), Kristy Knaup of Carey (medical office support), Samantha Lucio of Sylvania (accounting), Dianna Nevius of Gibsonburg (entrepreneurial), Jason Saxton of Toledo (pre-business administration), David Slaughter of Lambertville, Mich. (pre-business administration), Kathy Smith of Fostoria (accounting), Amoy Wattley of Toledo (accounting), Michael Williams of Fostoria (pre-business administration) and Crystal Wonderly of Fostoria (business).

Free Dental Service Brightens Smiles During Nationwide Give Kids A Smile Day at Owens

Posted on February 20th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Oral hygiene, pearly white teeth and smiling faces were abundant at Owens Community College as nearly 100 area children received free dental service courtesy of the Dental Hygiene program as part of the nationwide Give Kids A Smile Day.

Owens’ Dental Hygiene program, in collaboration with the Toledo Dental Society, was among thousands of organizations that provided free dental services and educational outreach for children with limited or no access to care across the country.

For Owens dental hygiene student Rachael Kline of New London, Give Kids A Smile Day provided an opportunity to share her talents and lend a helping hand to those individuals in need of dental care.

“It really feels great to help people in need,” explained Kline, who intends on pursuing a career as a dental hygienist after graduating from Owens. “I love working with children and Give Kids A Smile Day is allowing me to share the knowledge and skills I learned in the classroom with others through volunteerism.”

Give Kids A Smile Day is a national initiative by the American Dental Association, which is dedicated to focusing attention on the epidemic of untreated oral disease among disadvantaged children. Held each February in conjunction with National Children’s Dental Health Month, Give Kids A Smile Day provides free oral health education, screening and treatment services to children from low-income families across the country.

“Give Kids A Smile Day is a wonderful opportunity all around and I would like to say thank you to everyone involved for making this event possible,” said Amanda Bonds of Toledo, whose 11-year-old daughter Alexys attended the event.

Showing off his white teeth with a huge smile, two-year-old Braden Drenning of Wauseon summed up his dental experience in one word “fun”.

Dental services available for free throughout the event included dental education and screening, X-rays, oral prophylaxis (cleanings), limited restorations and dental sealants. In addition, Owens students from the health program provided educational presentations for parents and children.

The College’s Dental Hygiene program provides more than 40 students with a fully accredited, scientifically current and competency-based curriculum annually. Students receive classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience in the Dental Hygiene Clinic, while preparing to sit for the national, state or regional exam in dental hygiene. Owens’ program also offers dental services to area residents through its Dental Hygiene Clinic. The 20-chair clinic is staffed by dental hygiene students and supervised by licensed dental professionals at Owens, and appointments are available during the Fall and Spring semesters for a $30 fee.

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Owens Community College to Host FFA District I Tractor Troubleshooting Competition, Feb. 24

Posted on February 17th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area high school students will put their knowledge of tractors to the test as they compete in the 19th annual FFA District I Agricultural and Industrial Diagnostics Contest at Owens Community College on Friday, Feb. 24.

The contest will occur from 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the College’s Transportation Technologies Center on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township.

Presented by the College’s Transportation Technologies, the contest will involve high school teams, consisting of two students, completing various testing to determine their expertise of tractors. As part of the practical skills competition, teams will be required to locate, identify and repair a malfunction on a specified tractor donated for the event.

A panel of 10 judges, comprising industry representatives and Owens Transportation Technologies faculty, will grade each high school in the areas of workmanship as a team, safety practices, problem-solving techniques and identification, and repair of malfunctions to determine a district champion. Additionally, students within the College’s Transportation Technologies will assist with the competition. The top team will advance to the state championship competition.

High schools, which scored the highest on the written examination within the region were invited to participate in hands-on portion of the competition. Participants include Elmwood H.S., Genoa H.S., Penta Career Center, Bowling Green H.S., Four County Career Center, Ayersville H.S., Eastwood H.S., Woodmore H.S., Delta H.S., Otsego H.S. and Pettisville H.S.

Local businesses donating tractors for the competition are Streacker Tractor Sales, Crosby Equipment, Eagle Machinery Inc., Caterpillar Inc., John Deere and Owens Community College.

Owens Community College Announces Presidential Finalists Open Forums, Feb. 20-21

Posted on February 17th, 2012

Dr. Mike Bower

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College will welcome the three presidential finalists to the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses as the academic institution announces open forums for the candidates to meet employees, students and members of the community, Feb. 20-21.

The open forums will take place each day (Feb. 20-21) in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 125-128 on the Toledo-area Campus and the Community Education and Wellness Center Room 111 on the Findlay-area Campus. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township, while the College’s Findlay-area Campus is located on Bright Road in Findlay. The forums are open to the public.

The three presidential finalists will visit Northwest Ohio on the following days and open forum times: Dr. Mike Bower, President of Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D. on Monday, Feb. 20 from 9-9:45 a.m. (Toledo-area Campus) and 1:30-2:15 p.m. (Findlay-area Campus); Dr. Randall Miller, Senior Consultant to the Chancellor at Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, Mich. on Monday, Feb. 20 from 10:30-11:15 a.m. (Findlay-area Campus) and 1:30-2:15 p.m. (Toledo-area Campus), and Dr. Dorey Diab, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Stark State College in Canton, Ohio on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 9-9:45 a.m. (Toledo-area Campus) and 1:30-2:15 p.m. (Findlay-area Campus).

Dr. Randall Miller

“Owens Community College’s Presidential Search Committee and Board of Trustees are pleased to welcome the presidential finalists to Owens Community College and the Northwest Ohio region,” said Dee Talmage, Owens Board of Trustees Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair. “The community forums are intended to provide both the campus and community with the opportunity to meet the presidential finalists. Both the Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Trustees looks forward to the next phase of the search process with goal of having a new Owens President in place by the end of June.”

Last year, the Board of Trustees announced that a national search for the new President of Owens Community College was underway to succeed Dr. Larry McDougle, who retired Sept. 30. John Satkowski, Vice President of Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer, has served as the College’s Interim President since the beginning of October. The presidential search process is being led by Owens Board of Trustees Chair Dee Talmage, who is serving as Chair of the Presidential Search Committee.

Dr. Dorey Diab

The Board of Trustees has enlisted the professional services of the global firm Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. to assist in conducting the presidential search. Heidrick & Struggles has a long and storied history of conducting searches nationwide as well as extensive experience in higher education.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Presents ‘In Full Bloom’ Painting Exhibit, Feb. 20 – March 23

Posted on February 16th, 2012

Nancy Wikoff Leetch's watercolor painting titled "Sunflowers in Flow Blue Pitcher" is showcased in the Owens Library Gallery's current exhibition on the Findlay-area Campus.

FINDLAY, Ohio – Vibrant, colorful paintings depicting flowers and landscapes by artist Nancy Wikoff Leetch will serve as focus to the current art exhibition on Owens Community College’s Findlay-area Campus as the Library Gallery presents “In Full Bloom”, Feb. 20 – March 23.

In addition, the College will host a reception and lecture presentation with Leetch on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 5-7 p.m. The reception, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Findlay-area Campus Library. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay.

“Owens Community College is excited to present the amazing artistic work of Nancy Wikoff Leetch in the Library Gallery,” said Gail McCain, Owens Library Manager for the Findlay-area Campus. “Flowers and landscapes – painted in her signature sunlit and expressive style – are her subjects in the colorful show. Nancy’s paintings are the perfect antidote for the gloomy days of winter as attendees will be amazed by the vibrant colors, which certainly conjure images of sunny summer days.”

Leetch’s professional interest in painting became a reality after obtaining her master’s degree in studio painting and drawing from Bowling Green State University at the age of 53. Her career has taken her abroad traveling to such countries as England, Ireland, France and Mexico and she has exhibited in shows throughout the Northwest Ohio region. The Bowling Green resident has her paintings in several corporate holdings, including at The Ohio State University and Wood County Hospital. Additionally, Leetch’s paintings are currently on display at Art A Site! Gallery in Bowling Green.

Admission to the Findlay-area Campus Library Gallery is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information, contact the Library at (567) 429-3088 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3088.

OCCAC Honors Former Owens Athletic Director Michael Rickard

Posted on February 16th, 2012

OCCAC and Owens officials as well as members of Michael Rickard's family pose for a photo after the tribute ceremony. Individuals include (L to R) Jack Giambrone, Dr. Renay Scott, Alexa Rickard, Austin Rickard, Barbara Rickard and Chris Giordano.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) recently honored the legacy of former Express
Director of Athletics Michael Rickard who passed away unexpectedly in December 2010 by hosting a tribute ceremony in his honor at halftime of a recent Owens Community College basketball game.

During the ceremony, OCCAC representatives officially renamed the Athletic Director of the Year Award after Michael Rickard and presented the first award to his family in attendance.

“Michael Rickard was one of the most respected Athletic Directors, not only in the OCCAC, but in the region,” said Jack Giambrone, Athletic Director and Professor at Sinclair Community College. “He was a dedicated professional who had Owens and his student-athletes always at the forefront of any of his decisions or creation of any policy. Michael loved anything that had a positive influence on the Owens family and Express athletics. He was also a good friend and the conference is honored to rededicate the Athletic Director of the Year Award as the Michael Rickard OCCAC Athletic Director of the Year Award.”

Rickard worked in various athletic capacities for the College for more than 30 years, including full time since 1985 and as Athletic Director since July 2000. He was devoted to the Owens Express as he worked with coaches, student-athletes, parents, and faculty and staff through many seasons of wins and losses.

He was acknowledged by his peers for his leadership among community college athletic directors, as well as by opposing coaches and administrators who received respect and fair treatment when they visited the College. In addition, Owens student-athletes excelled in the classroom and on the athletic playing field as 88 student-athletes earned academic or athletic All-American honors from the NJCAA during his tenure.

A 1982 Owens graduate and a 1984 University of Toledo graduate with a bachelor’s degree in education and recreation/sports management, Rickard was named Athletic Director of the Year for 1995-96, 1999-2000, 2003-04 and 2009-10 by the OCCAC. He has been associated with Express athletic teams since the 1979-80 season, serving as a scorekeeper, statistician and assistant coach at times. From 1999-2001, he served as the Commissioner of the OCCAC.

Rickard was named to the Executive Committee of the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletics Administrators in 2010 and also was a member of the Owens Alumni Association Board of Directors. His accomplishments include being honored by the Rotary Club of Maumee with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship for his contributions in the Toledo community.

Owens Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery Presents ‘Women Working Together’ Fiber Exhibit, Feb. 21 – March 23

Posted on February 14th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – A wide variety of fiber media and techniques to create individual and collaborative works will be featured in the Owens Community College Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery as part of an exhibit titled “Women Working Together”, Feb. 21 – March 23. The Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery is located in Owens’ Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township.

In addition to the exhibit, Owens’ Center for Fine and Performing Arts will serve as host to a free exhibit reception on Friday, Feb. 24 from 6-8 p.m. in the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery.

“Owens Community College is proud to continue the art exhibition season with such a unique exhibit that showcases some of the finest local fiber artists around,” said Wynn Perry, Owens Coordinator of the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery. “Fiber techniques, often considered to be predominantly feminism traditions, are used by artists associated with the Northwest Ohio group Fiberforum as a means of personal reflection and as ways to express what it means to exist in the world today. Attendees will truly enjoy the masterful fiber work of some the region’s most talented fiber artists.”

Individuals showcasing their artistic work as part of Owens’ current exhibit are all members of the local Fiberforum organization. Established in 1973, Fiberforum is a group of dedicated fiber artists who are committed to providing a forum to discuss and share imagery and techniques specific to the fiber craft. The organization encourages the appreciation of traditional fiber media techniques as well as ways in which these techniques can be expanded to more diverse artistic works. Whether the art is quilted, woven, dyed, knitted, embellished, felted, stitched or made of handmade paper, fibers form a common thread that demonstrate the diversity of the group’s expressions.

Fiberforum has exhibited their work throughout the region. Area fiber artists showcasing their talents as part of the “Women Working Together” fiber exhibit include Sharon Hammer Baker of Findlay, Debby Bewley of Bowling Green, Gerry Brock of Perrysburg, Linda Drove of Toledo, Monica Edgerton-Sperry of Perrysburg, Judy Kahle of Wauseon, Patty Kehoe of Maumee, Susan Krueger of Bowling Green, Pamela MacGregor of McClure, Frances Parry of Monclova, Jo Scaife of Findlay, Connie Stark of Toledo and Letty Roller of Santa Fe, N.M.

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Owens Center for Fine and Performing Arts Welcomes Core Ensemble’s ‘Of Ebony Embers’ Performance, Feb. 24

Posted on February 14th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents will have the opportunity to experience a unique artistic performance developed by Core Ensemble that features a theatrical narrative to chamber music as Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts presents “Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance” on Friday, Feb. 24.

Presented in conjunction with the College’s celebration of Black History Month, Core Ensemble’s performance will take place in the College’s Mainstage Theatre at 8 p.m. The Owens Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to once again welcome internationally-acclaimed Core Ensemble to Northwest Ohio,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Director for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. “Core Ensemble’s chamber music theatre presentation of ‘Of Ebony Embers’ combines both the theatrical narrative and chamber music in a unique artistic expression that celebrates theatre, music and the Harlem Renaissance era in New York City. Attendees will be amazed by the group’s talents and compelling performance.”

Core Ensemble’s presentation of “Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance” will feature actor Chris White portraying multiple characters while interacting with the onstage musical cello, percussion and piano trio. Notable poets highlighted during the performance are Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Claude McKay. With a script written by Akin Babatunde, “Of Ebony Embers” will also feature musical works by jazz legends Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, among others.

Since its inception in 1993, Core Ensemble has garnered international acclaim for its unique chamber music theatre work. Touring venues and events worldwide, the group has made appearances at Harvard University, the Guggenheim Museum and the Moscow Autumn Festival, among many other locations. Additionally, the ensemble was named the recipient of the 2000 Eugene McDermott Award for Excellence in the Arts by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has received support from the State of Florida Department of Cultural Affairs, New England Foundation for the Arts and Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

Tickets for Core Ensemble’s “Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance” performance are $18. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Community College to Assist Local Residents With Children’s Clothing Swap Outreach Event, Feb. 21

Posted on February 14th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College students are reaching out to those individuals in the surrounding communities with a limited clothing budget by hosting a children’s clothing swap event titled “Swap-It-Up” on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The clothing swap is being presented by the College’s Student Activities Office and will take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The daylong event is free and open to the public.

“Owens Community College is proud to once again serve as host to an event that benefits individuals in our communities who have a limited clothing budget,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Activities Assistant. “I encourage individuals to donate their unnecessary clothes, while at the same time look for those hard-to-find items.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring gently used, folded clothing of all sizes for children to the community outreach event. Items being accepted as part of the “Swap-It-Up” initiative are pants, dresses, shoes, skirts, jackets, coats, pajamas, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts and sweaters, among other items.

All donated items must be freshly laundered and the clothing swap is not accepting clothing with visible stains, holes, broken zippers and missing buttons. Individuals will be given a ticket voucher for each item donated to the “Swap-It-Up” event. The ticket voucher will enable attendees to choose from the already donated clothing selection.

Any items not claimed during the clothing swap event will be donated to Owens’ Learning Center at The Source and Cherry Street Mission Ministries.

For more information about the clothing swap event, call (567) 661-2994 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2994.

Owens Express Basketball Teams Conclude Home Regular Season Against Lakeland CC, Feb. 15

Posted on February 13th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College men’s and women’s basketball programs will conclude the regular season home portion of their schedules with games against Lakeland Community College on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The women’s team will play Lakeland (11-13, 1-7) at 5:30 p.m., while the Express men will battle the Lakers (18-6, 4-4) beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Both games will be played at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Admission to home games is free.

Coached by Michael Llanas, the Express has amassed an overall record of 23-4 and is 8-1 (second place) in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference regular season standings. Llanas’ team is currently on a six-game winning streak and is ranked No. 7 in the most recent NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball poll.

The 2011-12 edition of the men’s basketball program has an overall record of 18-9 and a 5-4 mark (fourth place) in the OCCAC. The Express is led by Head Coach David Clarke.

Owens’ Community Terrace View Café Announces Spring Semester Menu, Feb. 28 – April 19

Posted on February 13th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to explore the diverse world of international cuisine and regional food discoveries during a unique dining experience at Owens Community College as the Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs announce spring menu selections in the community Terrace View Café.

The student-run Terrace View Café is open to the public during the academic year. Owens’ restaurant, which is coordinated by the Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Department, is located in College Hall Room 148 on the Toledo-area Campus. The Terrace View Café will be open to area residents for lunch Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Seating is limited and available until 12:15 p.m. and take out meals will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. The cost per lunch is $8.50 and reservations are required.

The Terrace View Café will be available to guests starting Tuesday, Feb. 28 with country captain chicken as the entrée. Regional food discoveries will be the featured selection Tuesdays, while Thursday’s culinary focus is international influences.

Upcoming Spring Semester dates and entrée listings include March 1 (grilled fish with passion fruit-ginger sauce or grilled pork and pineapple curry), March 13 (blackened redfish), March 15 (pork shashlyk or lamb chop with balsamic vinegar), March 22 (braised rabbit with mash or braised beef tongue), March 27 (chicken with Brunswick stew), March 29 (Mediterranean squash stuffed with rice, ground beef and lamb), April 3 (seared breast of chicken with pinot noir demi glace), April 12 (lamb shanks with garlic or smoked duck breast on Waldorf salad), April 17 (paneed tilapia with tropical “seashell” salad) and April 19 (tapas international cuisine). Additionally, attendees have the opportunity to choose either a lacto-ovo vegetarian entrée or a Terrace chicken burger with the planned side dishes if desired. A complete listing of dishes is available at www.owens.edu/terrace. Bakery items also will be available for purchase during the luncheons.

Reservations must be made by 3 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the Tuesday luncheon and 3 p.m. on Thursday prior to the Thursday luncheon. For additional information about Owens’ Terrace View Café fall lunch menu, call (567) 661-7359 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7359. Individuals can also make a reservation by accessing the College’s website at www.owens.edu/terrace.

Owens Alumni Association Accepting Nominations for Outstanding Service Award Celebration Through Feb. 29

Posted on February 10th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is recognizing the tremendous contribution that area police, fire and emergency medical professionals make to Northwest Ohio’s surrounding communities by hosting the ninth annual Outstanding Service Awards. The recipients will be honored as part of a community celebration on Friday, April 27.

The College’s Alumni Association is currently accepting nominations for the Outstanding Service Awards. Area residents are invited to nominate an individual or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service above and beyond the call of duty. Nominations need to be returned to the College’s Office of Alumni Relations by Wednesday, Feb. 29. The award is not limited to a single recipient, and the College’s Alumni Association encourages the nomination of more than one person when teamwork was the key element in their success.

The five awards, which will be presented at the community celebration, are within the categories of Outstanding Police Officer, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Service to Community and Community Spirit. Selection criteria will be based upon a nomination process with candidates demonstrating exceptional service related to dedication, ingenuity, bravery, special skills and/or to the community over a sustained period of time. The awards are not limited to a single recipient.

The ninth annual Outstanding Service Awards Celebration will begin at 8 a.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 125-128 on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend, however, reservations are required.

For more information about the Outstanding Service Award Celebration, or the nomination process, contact the College’s Alumni Relations Office at (567) 661-7410 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7410.

OCCAC to Honor Michael Rickard As Part of Owens Express Basketball Doubleheader, Feb. 11

Posted on February 9th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) will honor the legacy of former Express Director of Athletics Michael Rickard who passed away unexpectedly in December 2010 by hosting a tribute ceremony in his honor as part of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader against Sinclair Community College on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The tribute ceremony for Michael Rickard will occur at halftime of the Express women’s basketball game against Sinclair in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The Owens women’s basketball game will start at 1 p.m. followed by the Express men’s basketball contest against Sinclair at 3 p.m. Admission to all home games is free.

During the halftime ceremony, OCCAC representative will officially rename the Athletic Director of the Year award after Michael Rickard and present the first award to his family in attendance.

The Express women’s basketball program has amassed a 22-4 overall record and currently is in second place in the OCCAC standings. Led by Head Coach Michael Llanas, their conference record is 7-1. In the most recent NJCAA Division II poll, Owens Express women’s basketball is ranked No. 7 in the nation.

The 2011-12 edition of the men’s basketball program has an overall record of 17-9 and a 4-4 mark (fifth place) in the OCCAC. The Express is led by Head Coach David Clarke.

Owens Student Organization Receives Board of Trustees Excellence Award

Posted on February 9th, 2012

Owens Raising Awareness Club members (L to R) Josh Widanka, Nicole Lance and Hannah Jacobs pose for a photo after receiving the Board of Trustees Certificate of Recognition for Extraordinary Community Engagement award.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Raising Awareness Club and its student members have been chosen by the Board of Trustees Student Life Committee to receive a student excellence award for their commitment to academics, community engagement, student leadership and involvement in student life.

Student award recipients include Erin Smith of Northwood, Sheena Barnes of Flint, Mich., Hannah Jacobs of Luckey and Josh Widanka of Toledo. Additionally, Owens Raising Awareness Club Advisor and Student Activities Assistant Nicole Lance of Bowling Green was honored for her commitment, dedication and leadership to the organization.

Owens’ Raising Awareness Club members received the Certificate of Recognition for Extraordinary Community Engagement and were recognized for their achievements at the College’s recent Board of Trustees meeting.

The group was honored for their efforts in raising awareness specific to a variety of societal issues, such as coordinating a Community Volunteer Fair for individuals to learn about ways to give back in their local communities, an Educational Resource Supply Drive to benefit Wood County District Public Library, a Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City event that supported the Rainbow Area Youth organization and the Sweet Caroline Golf Outing to benefit Camp Quality Ohio for the organization’s year-round support program for children with cancer, among many other initiatives.

Owens’ Raising Awareness Club was founded with the overall purpose of raising awareness about an array of issues and causes. Comprised of Owens students, the group is committed to advocating for the acceptance of cultural differences, global unity, disability awareness and various needs that impact the surrounding communities.

The Board of Trustees Student Life Committee was chartered in 2011 to recognize and celebrate students who demonstrate the College’s core values of service, learning, innovation, collaboration and excellence through their achievements in academics, community engagement or involvement in student leadership and student life.

Any individual may nominate an Owens student or a group of students who demonstrate achievements specific to the award categories of Exemplary Academic Achievement, Extraordinary Community Engagement or Volunteerism and Exceptional Student Leadership or Student Life Involvement. The awards will be presented regularly to student recipients during Board of Trustees meetings.

OwensCommunity CollegeBoard of Trustees Named to Leadership Positions

Posted on February 8th, 2012

Diana H. (Dee) Talmage

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College has named Diana H. (Dee) Talmage and H. Richard Rowe to serve as the Chair and Vice Chair for the College’s Board of Trustees. Talmage and Rowe were elected to their positions by their fellow colleagues during the recent Owens Board of Trustees meeting and will serve one-year terms.

Initially appointed in November 2002, Talmage, a retired educator and former school board member, has held several leadership positions at the K-12 and higher education levels. Her professional and community involvement includes membership with the American Red Cross, the Flower Hospital Foundation and TARTA. An Ottawa Hills resident, Talmage received her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in education from The Ohio State University. Additionally, Talmage serves as a board member on the Owens Community College Foundation.

Rowe serves as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments in Findlay. He attended Bowling Green State University and holds a Series 7 Securities License as well as a Life and Health Insurance License. The Findlay resident served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 2004-10. His professional and community involvement includes the Kiwanis Club of Findlay and the United Way of Hancock County and he served as a City Councilman for 10 years in Findlay. Rowe was reappointed to the College’s Board of Trustees in September 2011.

The College’s Board of Trustees is comprised of seven community leaders from Lucas, Wood, Hancock and Sandusky counties who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio for six-year terms.

H. Richard Rowe

In addition to Talmage and Rowe, Owens Board of Trustees members include David Habegger of Oregon, Allan J. Libbe of Perrysburg, Dr. Ronald A. McMaster of Perrysburg, R J Molter of Woodville and William E. Takacs of Toledo.

Owens Community College Presents Free ‘Bullied’ Documentary Film Screening, Feb. 9

Posted on February 6th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to explore the significance of bullying and its impact on victims as Owens Community College presents a free screening and discussion of the documentary film “Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History” on Thursday, Feb. 9.

The film will be shown at 2 p.m. in the College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to the event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Project, the documentary film “Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History” chronicles the story of Jamie Nabozny and his ordeal of suffering relentless verbal and physical abuse at the hands of his classmates in Ashland, Wis. The incident later resulted in a federal lawsuit against his school district. The suit led to a landmark federal court decision stating that school officials could be held accountable for not stopping the harassment and abuse of gay students.

The 40-minute film is intended to provide an inspiring message of hope to those fighting harassment in today’s ever-changing society. “Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History” is endorsed by the National Education Association and was created to help administrators, teachers and counselors in promoting a safer school environment for all students. The underlying message also focuses on helping all students understand the terrible toll bullying can take on its victims, and to encourage students to stand up for their classmates who are being harassed.

In addition, an open discussion will take place at the documentary film’s conclusion. The film is being presented by College’s offices of Service Learning and Student Activities and the departments of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Teacher Education and Human Services, as well as Equality Ohio.

For more information about the film screening, call (567) 661-2275 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2275.

OwensCommunity CollegePresents Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Feb. 17

Posted on February 3rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – An exhilarating evening of dance and folk and rock music will engulf the stage at Owens Community College as Michigan’s premier contemporary dance company the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble performs in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on Friday, Feb. 17.

The performance, titled “Dances from the Heart of Rock and Roll”, will occur in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts’ Mainstage Theatre at 8 p.m. The College is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College is proud to welcome arguably one of the nation’s leading dance organizations to Northwest Ohio,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens Director for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts.“Attendees are sure to appreciate the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble’s amazing creative expression and artistic excellence in a performance that showcases a variety of popular folk and rock music.”

Now in its 21st season, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble is a professional contemporary dance company based in metro Detroit. Long considered one of the Midwest’s leading contemporary dance companies, the organization performs an annual subscription series, provides masters classes, holds residencies and is invited to perform at venues throughout the country. Eisenhower Dance Ensemble has worked in collaboration with the Michigan Opera Theatre, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings and the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. In addition, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble offers world-class dance instruction to students of all ages and levels of ability at its two school locations.

Familiar rock artists and musical work being featured during the group’s “Dance from the Heart of Rock and Roll” performance at Owens will include Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt, complemented by an array of choreographed contemporary dance routines.

Tickets for the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble are $24. To purchase tickets, visit www.owens.edu ( https://www.owens.edu/ )or contact the College’s Box Office. For more information about this event, contact the Center for Fine and Performing Arts at (567) 661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2787.

Owens Findlay-area and Toledo-area Campuses Present A Conversation with Holocaust Survivor Irving Roth, Feb. 14

Posted on February 3rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents interested in receiving a firsthand account of the horrors of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism are invited to a free lecture featuring Holocaust Resource Temple of Judea of Manhasset Director and Holocaust survivor Irving Roth at Owens Community College’s Findlay-area and Toledo-area Campuses on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Presented by the College’s Office of Student Activities and the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Roth’s lecture presentation will occur at 11 a.m. in the Conference Center Room 111 on the Findlay-area Campus. A second lecture event will take place at 2 p.m. in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens’ Findlay-area Campus is located on Bright Road in Findlay, while the Toledo-area Campus is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to both events is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Roth was born in Kosice, Czechoslovakia on Sept. 2, 1929 and arrived in New York City in 1947 via Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps in Germany. The memories of his experience in the concentration camps has never faded as he devotes his time and efforts to educating people on the horrors of the Holocaust and the evils of prejudice and anti-Semitism.

Roth currently serves as the Director of the Holocaust Resource Temple of Judea of Manhasset (Manhasset, N.Y.) and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maine. He is a recognized speaker on anti-Semitism and the Holocaust and is a frequent lecturer at colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and Europe. As a Holocaust survivor, Roth provides personal testimony on his experiences during World War II.

His honors include receiving the Spirit of Anne Frank Outstanding Citizen Award from The Anne Frank Center USA for promoting human rights, social justice and initiating the Adopt a Survivor Program, which has been instituted nationally and internationally in public and parochial high schools as well as in colleges and universities. Additionally, Roth has presented at such international conferences as the Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

Roth edited and coordinated the publishing of the book titled “Adopt a Survivor – An Antidote to Holocaust Amnesia”. He and his son, Rabbi Dr. Edward Roth, co-authored and published “Bondi’s Brother”, a book about Roth’s experiences before, during and after the Holocaust. They also published a “Holocaust Study Guide for Social Studies and Language Arts Teachers”, which encompasses a complete curriculum on the Holocaust and is taught in conjunction with “Bondi’s Brother” in elementary, middle and high schools as well as in colleges and universities. Roth obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

For additional information about the lecture presentations, call (567) 429-3029 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3029.

Owens Toledo-area and Findlay-area Campuses to Host Free College Goal Sunday Financial Aid Events, Feb. 12

Posted on January 31st, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents interested in acquiring additional information about financial aid are encouraged to participate in a free workshop where financial aid representatives from colleges and universities throughout Northwest Ohio will provide insight on securing federal and state assistance to any academic institution of higher learning. The program, known as College Goal Sunday, will be held at the Owens Community College Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses on Sunday, Feb. 12.

Presented by the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA), the state-sponsored event will focus on helping students complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application as well as answer financial aid specific questions. College Goal Sunday begins at 2 p.m. in the Audio/Visual Classroom Center on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township and in the Conference Center on the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay. Families should register prior to the event by accessing the College Goal Sunday website at www.ohiocollegegoalsunday.org.

“One of the biggest roadblocks students encounter when exploring their eligibility for financial aid is the financial aid form itself,” said Betsy Johnson, Owens Dean of Student Enrollment. “Owens Community College and fellow academic institutions are inviting students and their parents to spend an afternoon going through the application process step-by-step with a financial aid representative during College Goal Sunday.”

Owens and other colleges and universities currently participate in several need-based federal and state funded grant programs, work study opportunities, and loans, which all require applicants to file a FAFSA form to determine financial need. Additionally, numerous scholarships are available at the various academic institutions.

Specific programs accessible to Owens students include the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, the Owens Community College Grant, the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan and Federal Work Study, among others.

For more information, contact (567) 661-7378 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7378.

The Grainger Foundation and Owens Foundation Announce $10,000 Donation for Scholarships and Equipment

Posted on January 31st, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The Grainger Foundation has donated $10,000 to the Owens Community College Foundation in support of its initiative to further enhance the Alternative Energy and Sustainable Systems Technology Program at Owens Community College. The donation is being used to fund 16 technical education scholarships as well as the purchase of tools and equipment for the program’s new laboratories on the College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

“Owens Community College is delighted to partner with The Grainger Foundation and extend this new scholarship opportunity to our students,” said Ann Savage, Owens Executive Director of Fund Development and Executive Director of the Owens Community College Foundation.

According to Randy Wharton, Owens Dean of the School of Technology, the laboratories play a crucial role in supporting the College’s new Alternative Energy and Sustainable Systems Technology Program, providing invaluable hands-on experience to students who intend to embark on a new career in installation and/or maintenance repair of wind turbines, solar cell arrays and a variety of other alternative energy systems.

“Owens Community College’s School of Technology is extremely appreciative to The Grainger Foundation and their commitment to the new Alternative Energy and Sustainable Systems Technology Program,” said Wharton.

This donation was recommended by RobertHoagland, Branch Manager of W.W. Grainger Inc.’s Perrysburg location. Grainger has been a part of the Perrysburg business community for more than 75 years as the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products.

“We are proud to recommend the programs offered by Owens Community College Foundation,” said Hoagland. “We understand the need for strong technical education programs at Owens Community College.”

Last year, Owens continued its own educational investment into the future of alternative and renewable energy in Northwest Ohio by unveiling a new Alternative Energy and Sustainable Systems Technology Associate Degree Program. The degree provides students with the opportunity to receive hands-on experiential learning at the highest level utilizing many of the College’s state-of-the-art academic resources specific to solar thermal power, wind power and photovoltaic power.

The Grainger Foundation, an independent, private foundation based in Lake Forest, Ill., was established in 1949 by William W. Grainger, founder of W.W. Grainger Inc.

The Owens Foundation was incorporated in April 2002 and has over $2.4 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors currently is comprised of 31 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties. The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is developing and providing resources to advance the College’s overall mission of serving students and the surrounding communities. The Foundation is also dedicated to removing barriers to education by providing student scholarships and supporting growth and innovation at Owens.

Owens Community College Students to Host Community Arts and Crafts Show, Feb. 2

Posted on January 26th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to spend their afternoon shopping at Owens Community College for those hard-to-find items as the Student Activities Office serves as host to the Student Arts and Crafts Show on Thursday, Feb. 2.

The Student Arts and Crafts Show, which is free and open to the public, will occur from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Owens Community College’s Student Activities Office is excited to provide a venue in which students can showcase their talents,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Activities Assistant. “All items available for purchase are homemade and presented by students. You never know when you might find a one-of-a-kind item for that special family member, friend or loved one.”

More than 15 student vendors will be on hand selling various arts and crafts. Items available for purchase will include wristbands, jewelry, paintings and accessories, among others.

For more information about the Student Arts and Crafts Show, call (567) 661-2994 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2994.

Fall Pinning Ceremony Honors Registered and Practical Nursing Students at Owens

Posted on January 26th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Over 120 Owens Community College students were recently bestowed honorary pins by the Nursing Department for their academic achievements specific to registered nursing and practical nursing during a ceremony on the Findlay-area Campus. The pinning ceremony is part of a traditional nursing practice, which honors students prior to beginning their careers within the health care community.

“Owens Community College is extremely honored to recognize our students for their hard work and dedication toward achieving their educational aspirations,” said Ruth Ankele, Owens Chair of Nursing. “The registered nursing and practical nursing students have exhibited academic excellence at the highest level and are very deserving of their honorary pins.”

Registered nurse pinning recipients are Kelly Abbott of Genoa, Audrey Amos of Bowling Green, Melissa Bennett of Toledo, Angela Crozier-Berger of Swanton, Jamie Booker of Toledo, Kenneth Brown of Toledo, Emily Caldwell of Genoa, Roberta Camara of Toledo, Kristian Cardell of Toledo, Marguerite Cervantes of Millbury, Jeremy Clark of Carey, Erin Connin of Fostoria, Crystal Cowell of Walbridge, Sarah Crockett of Metamora, Samantha Currier of Toledo, Mary Davies of Genoa, Lisa Dillinger of Findlay, Cynthia DiMarco of Bowling Green, Yolanda Dixon of Holland, Phuoc Jai Dunn of Perrysburg, Nicole Eschbach of Sylvania, Kayla Everhardt of Toledo, Stephanie Fairbanks of Rossford, Tara Farley of Grand Rapids, Amy Flores of Toledo, Lori Gettings of Sylvania, Debra Gilson of Sylvania, Rebecca Gluza of Toledo, Jacob Gressman of Perrysburg, Gregg Hart of Northwood, Lisa Hodges of Toledo, Sarah Homer of Waterville, Ebonee Johnson of Toledo, Kristyn Kautz of Toledo, Jennifer Keiser of Pemberville, Jennifer Koepplinger of Toledo, Nicole Krueger of Toledo, Barbara Lanzi of Toledo, Rebecca Lenke of Oak Harbor, Ashley Lewis of Findlay, Yolanda Libstorff of Temperance, Mich., Dawn Linares of Temperance, Mich., Jennifer Loera of North Baltimore, Bobbilyn Long of Toledo, Lisa Long of Elmore, Elizabeth Martin of Findlay, Jennifer Massingill of Toledo, Alyssa McCurdy of Bowling Green and Matthew McIntire of Perrysburg.

Registered nursing students also receiving pinning honors include Angela McDowell of Perrysburg, Jennifer McNutt of Oregon, Alyssa McQuiston of Toledo, Amy Melvin of Toledo, Dixie Meredith of Toledo, Anabelle Nadal of Toledo, Donna Nielsen of Toledo, Usoro Noah of Toledo, Taylor Novo of Fostoria, Chizi Olocha of Toledo, Veronica O’Neill of Toledo, Jason Parke of Findlay, Andrew Paulson of Metamora, Paul Pepper of Sylvania, Jennifer Phillips of McComb, Judy Prater of Findlay, Toby Quintana of Findlay, Tiffany Richardson of Toledo, Bambie Rolsten of New Riegel, Darcy Rose of Toledo, Carrie Sallows of Findlay, Connie Sayler of Blissfield, Mich., Jody Schlender of Holland, Ronni Schudel of Toledo, Amanda Sheldon of Maumee, Tammy Shepherd of Dola, Brittany Silveira of Perrysburg, Carol Simon of Swanton, Emily Smith of Waterville, Sara Soltis of Genoa, Laura Spetz of Oregon, Kristen Stampflmeier of Toledo, Marisa Stevens of Toledo, Stephanie Stauffer of Rawson, Stacey Stratton of Montpelier, Nicole Tackett of Forest, Erin Tatchell of Sylvania, Shelly Taylor of Toledo, Katherine Thompson of Findlay, Jessica Urbina of Toledo, Sandra VanCamp of Dundee, Mich., Emily Verhoff of Cloverdale, Jaime Voegeli of Toledo, Lorraine Walton of Sycamore, Vonetta Ware of Toledo, Zachary Wasserman of Swanton, Jennifer Welling of Bowling Green, Christina West of Portage, Catherine Wilcox of Toledo, Amy Williamson of Sylvania, Amy Wittenmyer of Maumee and Jennifer York of Toledo.

Practical nursing students receiving their honorary pins are Nancy Bonnett-Rayle of Van Buren, Melissa Bryan of Fostoria, Tiffany Carter of Toledo, Eduardo Castillo of Fostoria, Barbara Charlton of Attica, Jennifer Clemons of Findlay, Elissa Cox of Lambertville, Mich., Peggy Earl of Fostoria, Jennifer Guzman of Findlay, Latoya Kenney of Toledo, Stephanie Klinger of Defiance, Audrey Krebs of Carey, Heather Kurisco of Toledo, Joshua Mayle of Findlay, Rosalva Pena of Leipsic, Sarah Pierce of Fostoria, Amanda Petrie of Fostoria, Keon Ruplinger of Delta, Amy Snider of Findlay, Jennifer Tey of Fostoria, Sierra Thomas of Bluffton, John Tercha of Haskins, Cami Walker of Findlay and Suzanne Weyer of Findlay.

Owens’ practical nursing certificate is offered on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses and requires 43 credit hours of coursework, which includes courses in basic nutrition, nursing trends, pharmacology, general psychology, nursing care of adults, and human anatomy and physiology, as well as other course requirements. Following graduation, students are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensure examination to become a licensed practical nurse.

The practical nursing certificate is designed to prepare graduates for nursing positions in a variety of health care settings. Among the various locations are acute care agencies, physician offices, long-term care agencies, behavioral health facilities, hospice and rehabilitation centers. The program combines studies at Owens with planned and guided clinical experience in client care for health care facilities and community agencies.

Owens Findlay-area Campus Presents ‘Jewish History and Anti-Semitism’ Lecture, Feb. 2

Posted on January 25th, 2012

FINDLAY, Ohio – Area residents interested in gaining insight into “Jewish History and Anti-Semitism” are invited to attend a free lecture presentation by Rabbi Alan Mayor Sokobin at the Owens Community College Findlay-area Campus on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Presented by the Office of Student Activities, Sokobin’s lecture and open dialogue will occur from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the College’s Conference Center Room 111 on the Findlay-area Campus. Owens is located on Bright Road in Findlay. Admission to the event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Sokobin served as a congregational rabbi for 40 years. Following his retirement from The Temple, Congregation Shomer Emunim of Sylvania, Sokobin enrolled at the University of Toledo College of Law and received his degree in 1996. He currently serves as a Lecturer of Law at the University of Toledo.

Additionally, Sokobin was Jewish Chautauqua Society Associate Professor of History at the University of Toledo. He has authored articles in “The Jewish Spectator”, “The Journal of Reform Judaism”, “International Social Science Review” and the “International Journal of World Peace”. Sokobin has been appointed to many national boards and commissions, including the Commission of Social Action of American Reform Judaism, the Board of Trustees of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal. For eight years, Sokobin directed the summer program in Israel for the National Federation of Temple Youth.

Sokobin will provide attendees with a historical perspective of the Jewish religion as well as an in-depth analysis of anti-Semitism. The presentation will conclude with an open dialogue session with those in attendance.

For additional information about the lecture presentation, call (567) 429-3029 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 3029.

Owens Community College to Host Student Harvest Food Pantries Open Houses, Jan. 31 and Feb. 2

Posted on January 24th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College will offer area residents the opportunity to view and learn more about the academic institution’s new Owens Harvest Food Pantries initiative on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses as part of open house events, Jan. 31 and Feb. 2.

The first of two Owens Harvest Food Pantries open houses will occur on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in Heritage Hall Room 109 on the Toledo-area Campus in Perrysburg Township, while the second open house will take place on Thursday, Feb. 2 in the Maintenance/Department of Public Safety Building Room 106 on the Findlay-area Campus in Findlay. Both events will occur from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

Owens, with the support of the Toledo Seagate Food Bank, recently announced plans for the academic institution’s first Owens Harvest Food Pantries on the College’s Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses. The new Owens Harvest Food Pantries are designed to provide students with free non-perishable food resources as well as various service learning opportunities.

“Owens Community College is excited to unveil the new Owens Harvest Food Pantries outreach program to the surrounding communities,” said Krista Kiessling, Owens Coordinator of the Harvest Project. “The initiative is intended to assist our students in need while also offering service and volunteer opportunities for those individuals who want to give back and help their fellow students.”

Kiessling added, “The harvest food pantries also provide an outlet for community members to give back to those individuals in need through donation efforts. Both locations will continuously be accepting non-perishable food donations.”

In addition to providing donations to the students, Owens’ Harvest Food Pantries are designed to build upon the College’s culture of philanthropy and service on the campuses by creating new collaborative learning opportunities for students in various academic departments and disciplines. Potential opportunities include the business management and marketing of the new pantries, the establishment of a nutritional program for students and the exploration of the sociological impact of poverty and hunger on certain cultural groups.

Both Owens Harvest Food Pantries will be open to all Owens students on Tuesdays (Owens Harvest Food Pantry on Toledo-area Campus) and on Thursdays (Owens Harvest Food Pantry on Findlay-area Campus) starting in February. Students will need to show a valid Owens identification to utilize the services.

The two Owens Harvest Food Pantries will feature a healthy nutritional balance of non-perishable food items such as proteins, starches, fruits and vegetables. Both locations also plan to expand services in the near future to include a career closet of professional clothing and a hygiene pantry.

For those individuals and/or community organizations interested in donating to the new Owens Harvest Food Pantry initiative, call (567) 661-2275 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2275.

Owens Community College Students to Host Chili Cook-Off Fundraising Event, Jan. 31

Posted on January 23rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to put their taste buds to the test as Owens Community College students serve as host to a Chili Cook-Off fundraising event on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The Chili Cook-Off will occur from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Attendees will receive a tasting kit to sample the assortment of chili selections. The Chili Cook-Off is open to the campus community as well as the general public. The College’s Office of Student Activities is encouraging individuals to donate $3 per person, which will benefit Riders Unlimited in Oak Harbor.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample an assortment of chili from various Owens student teams and then vote for their favorite edible delight. The team who receives the most votes will become the Chili Cook-Off people’s choice winner and the chili will be sold at the College’s Fireside and Jaguar grills as part of a collaborative effort between the Office of Student Activities and AVI Foodsystems.

Proceeds raised from the Chili Cook-Off will benefit Riders Unlimited, which offers equine assisted activities and therapies to individuals with physical, mental, emotional and psychological disabilities. The organization utilizes the natural movement, personalities and behaviors of selected horses to provide many therapeutic benefits.

For more information about the event, call (567) 661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2569.

OwensCommunity CollegeHosts Auditions for Upcoming Musical Theatre Production, Jan. 30-31

Posted on January 23rd, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents interested in performing in the upcoming student production of the “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” are invited to open musical theatre auditions at Owens Community College, Jan. 30-31.

Auditions will take place Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 30 and 31, from 6-9 p.m. in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Studio Theatre Room 111. Callback auditions will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

Each individual is encouraged to prepare a monologue as part of the audition or a monologue will be provided for them. Additionally, participants must prepare a pop song or musical selection to be sung during the audition. An accompanist will be provided for the performance. The theatre production dates are April 13-15 and 20-22.

Attendees are required to make an appointment prior to the audition dates. For more information, or to make an appointment, call (567) 661-2798 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2798.

Owens Dental Program Offers Free Dental Services for Children During Give Kids A Smile Day, Feb. 3

Posted on January 18th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Oral hygiene, X-rays and fillings will be the focus of free dental appointments at Owens Community College as more than 150 area elementary and high school students’ teeth are transformed to pearly whites during the nationwide Give Kids A Smile Day on Friday, Feb. 3.

Owens’ Dental Hygiene program, in collaboration with the Toledo Dental Society, will be offering a day of free dental services for children with limited or no access to care ages six months to 18 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. at the College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic. The clinic is located in Health Technologies Hall on the Toledo-area Campus.

Additionally, Toledo Dental Society dentists and Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary will provide restorative treatments such as fillings and extractions for patients on Feb. 17.

“Owens Community College’s Dental Hygiene program is excited to once again participate in such a worthwhile endeavor and provide dental services to individuals in need,” said Beth Tronolone, Owens Chair of Dental Hygiene. “Give Kids A Smile Day is also a wonderful opportunity to raise the importance and awareness of preventive dental care such as flossing, brushing and regular dental visits. Our goal is give each attendee a positive dental experience and help them feel comfortable smiling again.”

Owens Dental Hygiene second-year students, faculty and alumni, and area dentists will be conducting dental services, which will include dental education and screening, X-rays, oral prophylaxis (cleanings), limited restorations and dental sealants. In addition, first-year students from the health program will provide educational presentations for parents and children.

Individuals interested in receiving free dental service are encouraged to contact the College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic at (567) 661-7294 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7294. Appointment reservations must be made prior to the event.

Owens Community College to Host Express Baseball Unsigned Senior Showcase, Jan. 29

Posted on January 17th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Prospective high school seniors interested in playing intercollegiate baseball are invited to Owens Community College to display their talents and receive instruction and evaluation as men’s baseball serves as host to the Express Baseball Unsigned Senior Showcase on Sunday, Jan. 29.

The Express Baseball Unsigned Senior Showcase will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

High School seniors will be divided into groups and receive individual instruction on baseball skills, which will include an evaluation of each player’s hitting, pitching, throwing and defensive techniques. In addition, attendees will learn about custom exercises for baseball and gain tips on improving their hitting and pitching.

The Owens men’s baseball program finished the 2011 season with a 25-13 overall record and in second place in the OCCAC (9-5 record). Coached by Del Young, Owens lost to Vincennes University in the NJCAA Sub-Region XII Championships.

Parents and coaches are invited to attend the event to listen and observe at no additional charge. Participants are encouraged to wear baseball pants or sweats, T-shirts and tennis/cross training shoes. Additionally, attendees should bring their own baseball glove, bat, helmet and catcher’s equipment.

The fee for the Express Baseball Unsigned Senior Showcase is $65. For more information, or to register, call (567) 661-7936 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7936, or e-mail del_young@owens.edu. Individuals can also register online by accessing the College’s website at www.owens.edu/athletics/camps.html.

Owens Community College to Host First-Ever Charity Week Community Outreach Events, Jan. 23-26

Posted on January 17th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to help make a difference in lives of others by participating in a series of community outreach events as part of Owens Community College’s first-ever Charity Week, Jan. 23-26.

Coordinated by the College’s Student Activities Office, the various activities will occur daily from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.

“Community service is about helping others and Owens Community College’s Charity Week is intended to provide opportunities for students and area residents to engage in such outreach activities through service projects,” said John Byers, Owens Director of Student Involvement. “I encourage individuals to help in lifting the spirits of another person by participating in one of the College’s many projects during Charity Week.”

Each day, participants will have the opportunity to engage in several hands-on activities, which will include sewing pillowcases into bright, colorful dresses for Haitian children and creating knot fleece blankets for the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge, S.D. Attendees can also put their decorative and writing skills to the test by making inspirational cards for residents of nursing homes throughout Northwest Ohio.

Additionally, Owens’ Department of Fine and Performing Arts is partnering with the College’s Student Activities Office on Charity Week community outreach as participants will be using the Costume Shop to create the pillowcase dresses. Activities will include cutting open the seam end of the pillowcase, adding elastic to the top portion of the pillowcase and sewing armholes for the dresses.

The Toledo School for the Arts is also collaborating with Owens on the Haitian outreach initiative by creating their own pillowcase dresses as part of a class project. All completed pillowcase dresses from both projects will be on display at a Toledo School for the Arts performance event at Owens later this year.

In addition to the hands-on Charity Week activities, community members can assist by donating gently-used pillow cases and blankets and thread, rick rack and elastic. Individuals can drop off their donations in Student Health and Activities Center Room 165 throughout the week.

All completed projects from Charity Week will be delivered to the appropriate community groups and organizations throughout the Spring Semester. For more information about the upcoming Charity Week community outreach activities, call (567) 661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2569.

Owens Community College Students to Host Community Blood Drive, Jan. 17

Posted on January 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents can help in saving the lives of their neighbors as Owens Community College and the American Red Cross host a community Blood Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The Blood Drive will occur from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the College’s Audio/Visual Classroom Center Rooms 125-128 on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. The Blood Drive will be staffed by Owens surgical technology and sterile processing student classes.

Qualified donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and not have given blood within 56 days prior to their donation. In addition, individuals should feel well the day of the Blood Drive, be in general good health and have a picture ID (preferably a driver’s license). The Blood Drive is open to Owens employees and students, as well as area residents. Walk-ins are welcome.

The American Red Cross Western Lake Erie Region, which comprises Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, needs to collect approximately 85,000 pints of blood each day to serve patients in 23 area hospitals.

Donors will be provided snacks and drinks before and after their donation. For more information, contact the College’s School of Health Sciences at (567) 661-7206 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7206. Interested parties are encouraged to make an appointment by registering on the website at www.givelife.org and entering the sponsor code OWENSCCPERRYSBURG or calling the above number.

Owens Community College to Host Community Volunteer Action Fair, Jan. 19

Posted on January 12th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area residents are invited to learn about and explore the many available opportunities to give back to their local communities throughout Northwest Ohio as Owens Community College serves as host to a Community Volunteer Action Fair on Thursday, Jan. 19.

The Community Volunteer Action Fair will take place from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo-area Campus. Owens is located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. Admission to the event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Throughout the event, individuals can meet with local community outreach representatives and ask them questions about volunteer opportunities available through their organizations.

Area organizations in attendance will include Serenity Farm, the Padua Center, Odyssey Hospice, YWCA Hope Shelter, Cherry Street Mission Ministries, Toledo Seagate Food Bank, Sunshine of Northwest Ohio, Wood County Habitat for Humanity, Nature’s Nursery, Camp Courageous, Wood County Park District and Adelante Latino Resource Center, among many others.

For more information about the Community Volunteer Action Fair, call (567) 661-2275 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2275.

Owens Community College Announces Spring Junior LEGO Engineering Class, Feb. 8-29

Posted on January 11th, 2012

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Area youth ages 5 through 7 are invited to explore science, mathematics and creative thinking through the use of LEGO materials as Owens Community College’s Workforce and Community Services offers a spring Junior LEGO Engineering class, Feb. 8-29.

The spring Junior LEGO Engineering class will occur Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at Owens’ Workforce and Community Services, which is located at the College’s Arrowhead Park Learning Center on Indian Wood Circle in Maumee.

“Owens Community College’s LEGO Engineering class continues to serve as one of the most popular continuing education programs among children and parents and we look forward to continuing to offer these and other academic classes, which promote science, mathematics and creative thinking in a fun, engaging environment,” said Rhonda Hogrefe, Owens Continuing Education and Community Service Account Representative.

Using advanced LEGO parts and pieces, Junior LEGO Engineering class attendees will learn to design and build models through the use of fixed and movable pulleys, gears, levers, wheels, axles, forces and belt drives. The experiential learning activities will use principles related to simple and complex machines as well as gearing and mechanical advantage techniques.

In addition, the class will use LEGO Educational Division materials and LEGO Technic elements as part of the academic learning process.

The registration cost for the spring Junior LEGO Engineering class is $89. For more information, or to register for the class, call (567) 661-7357 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7357.